Nickels and Dimes corporate logo
Nickels and Dimes Incorporated (NDI) is an family entertainment center operator established in 1972 by Craig Singer in Carrollton, Texas. In 2019 it relocated to Celina, Texas.
Beginning with electromechanical pinball machines and arcade games, NDI rode the wave of "solid-state" innovation and rapidly expanded to operate hundreds of video arcades in the continental USA, plus Hawaii and Australia, throughout the Golden Age[1]. As shopping malls fell out of fashion, many of their arcades were closed, and operations were consolidated. In the 1990s and beyond, NDI was able to acquire and maintain select failed locations of competitors such as Sega GameWorks, Rink-Side Sports, and Exhilarama, and operate them to the continued benefit of the property owners. Outside the traditional arcade setting, NDI sometimes placed games in high-traffic "kiosk" locations and in Brunswick Zone bowling entertainment centers.
Sensing a continued need for large out-of-home entertainment locations, NDI launched the Tilt Studio brand in 2011, applying it at large locations in Vorhees, NJ; Indianapolis, IN; and Katy, TX[1]. These locations combine elements such as carnival rides, laser tag, minigolf, mini bowling, arcade games, pinball, ball pits, simulators, and party rooms, and serve pizza and snacks under NDI's food service brand, "J.P. Pepperoni."
After many suppliers weakened or went out of business in the faltering arcade market, NDI vertically integrated, adding design and manufacture of arcade equipment to its portfolio. Their products are distributed through established OEM Global VR[2].
As a potential solution for empty Sears locations, NDI is now trialling a "Tilted 10" HyperBowling center together with Tilt Studio, including meeting spaces, a restaurant and bar.[3]
Decline of the Traditional Arcade[]
Numerous factors led to a decline in traditional mall arcades starting in 1983-1984 and continuing to this day. NDI still had more than 100 arcades through 2006, many in the original malls were they were founded. As of 2014 NDI reported having a total of 75 locations.[4] The original Tilt arcades remain in decline; while there were still 30 Tilt locations in 2016[5], at the end of 2019, just "over 15" remained open. As of July, 2021, only 5 Tilt locations remain. By the end of 2019, Tilt Studio had 14 locations. In 2021 the chain still has 14 locations either open or planned.[6]
An early Nickels and Dimes game token showing the original arcade brands.
Arcade brands of Nickels and Dimes[]
- Electronic America arcades
- Gold Mine arcades
- Nautilus arcades
- Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus (1982) - restaurants with animated shows and arcade
- Tilt arcades
- Tilt Studio family entertainment centers
- Tilted 10 entertainment centers
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20121001233817/http://www.tiltstudio.com/
- ↑ https://www.globalvr.com/nickels&dimes.html
- ↑ https://tilted10.com/
- ↑ Dealmakers Magazine, 2014-08-22. https://issuu.com/thedealmakers/docs/dmk_082214_p3fl
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160821175716/https://tiltstudio.com/locations/
- ↑ https://tiltstudio.com/locations/
This article was featured in July, 2021.