Old School Pinball and Arcade Coming To Penn Central Mall
Jason Shiffer talks about his newest Old School Pinball and Arcade coming to Penn Central Mall.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The black plastic is covering the space in Penn Central Mall, but the rumors have been leaking out about what may be coming to fill that space.
At a recent William Penn vendor fair, the rumors became fact.
Jason Shiffer, an owner of Old School Pinball and Arcade, is bringing an arcade to Penn Central Mall. Once open, Oskaloosa will be their fifth location.
The new business will feature around 60 games on free play. Pinball, skee-ball, and the arcade games and fun that come with it.
Also in the location will be an old fashion ice cream bar, where you can get old fashioned shakes, malts and sodas.
For 10 bucks, you will have the opportunity to play the arcade games, all day long if you choose. “You can come in for ice cream any time,” added Shiffer.
Shiffer started off as a collector of classic arcade games when he was given one, and he and his dad restored that machine. “Always had a love for it.”
Shiffer filled up his home acquiring 60 games of his own.
His father passed away, and Shiffer dealt with that loss by opening up his first arcade in Grimes. The arcade in Ottumwa was next. Then came the locations in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Rochester, Minnesota and now Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Beyond the old school arcade, there will also be new technology, such as state of the art pinball, shooting games. “It’s a good mixture to make it fun for everybody,” explained Shiffer.
The invention of the home gaming system helped to bring about the end of the original arcades, but today the experience of entering, playing and competing in an arcade is an experience people are leaving the basements and their home video game systems to enjoy once again. The arcade brings about the opportunity to socialize and hang out with friends.
The first of October is the target date for the Old School Pinball and Arcade to open in Penn Central Mall, if all goes to plan.
