[UPDATE BELOW] Goodbye, childhood. Over the weekend rumors were circulating about the demise of Mott Street mainstay Chinatown Fair, which we can only guess is the last arcade of its kind in the city. Some said they were closing on February 23rd, some on March 23rd, and one employee told us they weren't closing at all. But they weren't picking up when we called, so we sent an intern to check it out. As of 11:30 this morning (half an hour past their opening time) they were shuttered. And that ruined one girl's birthday!
Maria Ollivares of Queens told us she was waiting for her friend so they could celebrate her birthday, and said she had never been there before and was excited to go for the first time. She had gone online to look it up, but said through her Internet findings that she thinks "they might have sold out."
Bowery Boogie recently posted a video of manager Henry Cen (below) explaining how it's hard to sustain a business on quarter games, but Ripten reports that the arcade may be moving to Williamsburg, giving Barcade a run for its money. Other than that there's Peter Pan Games in Bayside...or Dave & Busters.
[UPDATE] Well, it looks like the Internet is wrong about Chinatown Fair's hours! We just called back and manager Valentino Ventura informed us, "We're open! We're open!" He also recently had this to say about other manager Henry Cen:
apparently Henry has to much time on his hands. its not cool to spread unsubstantial information. folks, its all rumor perpetuated by a hater who wants to see a successful, bustling business fail. The truth is, that cf maybe relocating to Williamsburg, Brooklyn if disputes with the landlord r not settled. CF IS NOT CLOSING. Sam, Benny and myself genuinely love our customers (including the smelly ones) and this business. SPREAD THE WORD, FOLKS.
