MASSILLON, Ohio (AP) — Tom Manely was excited when he came across a 45 rpm vinyl record with "Play that Funky Music (white boy)" by Wild Cherry in his vast collection.
"If ever there was a funky white boy...," Manely said with a smile.
Since 2006, Manely has been working hard remodeling a former Sunoco gas station and filling it with more than 50 classic arcade games and pinball machines from the past few decades.
Manely instructs people driving along state Route 21 into Navarre, "when you smell bread, turn your head." The unassuming renovated building now is Flashback Classic Coin-Ops and it's open for parties and fundraisers, and just friends and family getting together.
"It's all about having fun, and it's all about celebrating life," Manely said. "That's what it's really about."
Manely's favorite part is when he watches a baby boomer such as himself lift a young child up on one of the footstools he has handy throughout the business to play games together. Or when he sees a parent and child sitting on stools side by side playing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", or racing each other on "Suzuka 8 Hours." He has just as much fun seeing grandparents and parents reliving their youth, as the children who are discovering these classic games for the first time.
"When you see that magic, it's just priceless," Manely said.
But first, like a museum curator giving a tour, Manely has to share a few stories about the dozens upon dozens of record albums that decorate the walls of the Flashback lobby.
"This is the best part ... I get to share my stories with people," he said.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Baby-boomer-recreates-arcades-at-Flashback-4449988.php#ixzz2R7NUO1T6
"If ever there was a funky white boy...," Manely said with a smile.
Since 2006, Manely has been working hard remodeling a former Sunoco gas station and filling it with more than 50 classic arcade games and pinball machines from the past few decades.
Manely instructs people driving along state Route 21 into Navarre, "when you smell bread, turn your head." The unassuming renovated building now is Flashback Classic Coin-Ops and it's open for parties and fundraisers, and just friends and family getting together.
"It's all about having fun, and it's all about celebrating life," Manely said. "That's what it's really about."
Manely's favorite part is when he watches a baby boomer such as himself lift a young child up on one of the footstools he has handy throughout the business to play games together. Or when he sees a parent and child sitting on stools side by side playing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", or racing each other on "Suzuka 8 Hours." He has just as much fun seeing grandparents and parents reliving their youth, as the children who are discovering these classic games for the first time.
"When you see that magic, it's just priceless," Manely said.
But first, like a museum curator giving a tour, Manely has to share a few stories about the dozens upon dozens of record albums that decorate the walls of the Flashback lobby.
"This is the best part ... I get to share my stories with people," he said.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Baby-boomer-recreates-arcades-at-Flashback-4449988.php#ixzz2R7NUO1T6
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