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It’s game over for Game On at Smith Haven Mall.
The popular retro arcade says it’s being forced out following a proposed rent increase.
In a post on Facebook, owner Tristian Whitworth said the mall issued a 30-day notice to vacate on April 1.
“In order to stay they gave us the option to pay more than 4x our rent as well as put a massive amount of money into the exterior facade,” Whitworth wrote, adding the business couldn’t absorb those costs without raising prices — something he said he did not want to do.
Despite the closure, Whitworth says he’s not done yet. A new location is already in the works, and it’s expected to be significantly larger.
The current mall space is about 5,500 square feet. The new project is planned at roughly 28,000 square feet across multiple spaces.
Plans call for expanded gaming areas, private party rooms, food and drink service, and longer hours. The new venue may also include a movie component.
“This will be a Retro Heaven,” he wrote.
Game On, which opened in the mall in 2022, built a following with its flat-fee model that allows customers to play unlimited arcade games. Whitworth said raising prices to offset rent didn’t align with the business or its customers.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into this place over the last five years so it’s hard to see it go,” he wrote.
Game On’s Riverhead location will remain open and expand to seven days a week starting May 1. Any passes purchased for the mall will carry over to the new location.
For now, the focus is on the final days.
“This weekend may be our last weekend here,” Whitworth wrote, inviting customers to stop by for “one last go.”
“I know you’ve all made a ton of memories over the years here,” he added.
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Top: Retro arcade machines at Game On. Credit: Facebook
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