April 2024 | By Deb Everts | salamancapress.com
SALAMANCA — Local kids now have the opportunity to experience retro entertainment at Cubz Arcade, offering family fun at 28 Main St. reminiscent of the golden age of arcade games during the late 1970s to mid-80s.
Owners Jerome “Joby” Bucktooth and his wife, Carly, introduced their new business to the public on March 9 with a soft opening. Carly said the opening went very well. Quite a few kids stopped in that weekend to check the place out and they liked it because it’s something different and fun. She said the retro games are something new for the kids to do beyond sitting in front of a computer or on their phones.
“People in this town often complain there is nothing for the kids to do. This is a great way to get them out of the house,” she said. “The kids are interested in screens so this still gives them screen time, but they can be socializing with other people.”
Through the arcade, the Bucktooths are offering local youth in the community something to do in town that involves family-oriented fun. Carly said the arcade isn’t just for the community — it’s for all the neighboring communities as well.
Carly said they are encouraging parents to stay at the arcade to play with their kids and it is working out quite well. She said they don’t charge parents who come in to play with their kids because they want them to come in and have family bonding time.
“Many people don’t have family dinners around the dining room table anymore. Everyone is busy and it’s go, go, go,” she said. “We are expected to have our kids on teams playing sports year-round, so there’s often no time for dinner. It’s grab-and-go. That’s what most families do and it’s what our family did for years.”
Carly said this is an activity that families can do together. Children younger than 8 must be supervised, but any parent who is willing to stay and play with their kids plays for free — even if the kids are teenagers.
The Bucktooths are well-known in the community through their involvement in youth sports for years including coaching soccer, softball and football. Jerome announces the Salamanca Warriors youth football games, and he is president of the Seneca Nation Volunteer Fire Department. Beyond the arcade, Carly also works at the Seneca Nation Health Center.
The couple began thinking about opening an arcade last fall. Carly said the idea came about because the business space was empty and the location is adjacent to their other business, Bear Nugz Dispensary, from where the name, Cubz, originated.
Aside from some electrical upgrades and a fresh coat of blue paint on the walls to coordinate with the colors on the game machines, she said they didn’t have to do much upgrading or remodeling.
While the couple was considering an arcade, they saw a Facebook post about an auction in Ellicottville with various games, many of which came from a former arcade in Ellicottville. Cubz currently has 14 games, including a pool table and Skee-Ball machine, with two more expected to be delivered this week.
“We’re getting really competitive in the Skee-Ball game, and we have a high-score list posted. It’s so much fun,” she said. “It’s neat seeing the parents come in and show their kids how to play. That’s been the best part, so far.”
There is a small room in the back that will be available for people to host private gatherings, and they are thinking about offering virtual reality (VR) headset games in the future. If the room dimensions are right, they may also add dartboards.
Other ideas include kayak and canoe rentals. Carly said there’s a boat launch right behind the building, along the Allegany River. They’ll have a truck and trailer to bring them back to Cubz.
The arcade is open Wednesday and Thursday, 4-8 p.m.; Friday, 3-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours are planned to be extended this summer.
People can find up-to-date information and current hours for the arcade on Facebook or call 716-261-6687.
