Comments on: Bally Le Mans Arcade — Closed

By: Dave Farquhar

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:50:26 +0000

Sad, and I think every city in the United States has a story like it. I think the only mall with an arcade left near me is the rapidly declining Crestwood Plaza, which has (or had) a Tilt. Some 20 years ago, it was the biggest mall in the metro area, but today it’s about half empty and has a reputation for gangs (I don’t go there enough to know if it’s deserved).

Almost all of the malls in Kansas City that I remember going to in my youth are gone now, replaced by overgrown strip malls (so-called “Lifestyle Centers”) or New Urbanism (revitalized and slightly modernized takes on the classic downtown). The traditionalist in me doesn’t mind the New Urbanism, but when I think of progress, strip malls consisting of all the usual big-box stores mashed together isn’t exactly what comes to mind…

By: Mom

Mom — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:47:19 +0000

The last time I went to Crossroads was the last time! I feel very insecure there (unsafe!) and that’s on the inside. The outside parking lots require heavy arms! Another footnote: the deputy that shot the gang member was then reassigned to our school to work as campus security. No one knew he was the “shooter” until he started telling it. He was reassigned shortly thereafter. I’m older, and I remember when they built Crossroads. State of the art and putting outdoor malls out of business. It will be closed shortly I’m sure, as it’s mostly empty now. The end of another era. Mom

By: Dean

Dean — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:53:38 +0000

according to the mall management, they refused to lower the rent so when the lease came up Namco told them where to stick it.

Subway has also closed down in that mall.

By: rivas

rivas — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:53:30 +0000

Wow, that’s really sad. That was the first arcade that I ever set foot in. I have so many great memories of my grandparents taking me to the sugar cookie place down and across the way from there, then the old Hobby Shop that had all the D&D stuff in it (when it went out of business Extreme Indoor Putt-Putt took its place), and finally Bally’s. I have such a vivid memory of that place… how dark it was inside, the smell of grease and oil from the race track, the loudness of the cars and the chiming games everywhere…. How big and never-ending the place seemed to such a little kid… the greasy, sweaty feel of the joysticks on most of the games…. Maybe this last one is a false memory, but I could almost swear that there was also some kind of electrical clacking/sparking in there… actually maybe it was coming from the cars come to think of it.

I have heard rumors that Crossroads may be closing entirely in the next few years.

By: Dean

Dean — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:53:26 +0000

It was owned and operated by Namco. The rent and staff costs more than what it made, namco secured a huge contract with Walmart taking over from the sugar loaf vending company in the northern states, non performing Namco arcades were closed and the machines shopped and are ending up being relocated to other locations.

namco does however still have Arcades in Tulsa and Bartlesville.

Tilt amazes me that it keeps going, what with the poor maintained games and clueless staff. i think their only saving grace in quail springs mall is that the location is right next to the shitters so the rent is somewhat less since its hardly a desired location for the new victorias secret!

I found my floorplans for my bricktown “Gamestown” arcade last week, im sure if I do the numbers again it will be double maybe more than what it was 5 years ago. unfortunately games are now an adddition to a business and not a business on their own.

By: Phrack

Phrack — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:18:05 +0000

Awww. An end of an era. Le Mans was a pinnacle to arcade fans. It has seen its glory days come and go. I wonder if it will re-open further north of the city? Oh, well … there’s always Cactus Jacks. Quail Springs still has TILT.