After 39 years of business, Family Fun Arcade (FFA) located in Granada Hills, will be closing on December 31, 2012. Many local gamers have found fun, comfort and competition at the arcade.
We spoke with professional gamers Loren Riley (AGE Fanatiq) and Ray Ruballos (AGE Knives) who expressed their gratitude for the arcade.
“I’m really grateful for this place,” said Ray Ruballos.
“A lot of the time I felt like I took it for granted because I always had a place to play.”
With growing popularity for online console gaming, the arcade scene has seen a significant decline in clientele in the past years. FFA was able to make a short comeback with events, such as, the world premier of Street Fighter 4 in 2008. Come December 31, 2012, however, it will be game over for this local arcade. Insert coin(s).
Map of Arcades in the San Fernando Valley.
An elderly couple walks past Family Fun Arcade in Granada Hills. The arcade is scheduled to close by January 2013.
Granada Hills Charter High School student John Schwager, 16, gets ready to play Street Fighter II at Family Fun Arcade after school Friday Oct. 26, 2012.
Bon Parungao, 23, of Northridge plays Street Fighter at Family Fun Arcade Saturday Oct. 27, 2012.
Gamers play at Family Fun Arcade in Granada Hills.
Alex Madrigal, 22, of Oxnard looks at his girlfriend Andrea Nelendez, 19, play at Family Fun Arcade Friday Oct. 26, 2012. "Every week we try to find
something different to do, this week it is video games," he said.
A quarter is inserted into an arcade game at Family Fun Arcade.
Gamers link play at Family Fun Arcade in Granada Hills.
Carlos Gomez, left, 24, of Sylmar and Ivan Lua, right, 24, of west Hollywood play a friendly game of Street Fighter at Family Fun Arcade Thursday Oct. 24, 2012.
Professional gamer Loren Riley "AGE Fanatiq" started his gaming career at Family Fun Arcade. Today he travels around the country competing in fighting game
tournaments for After Glow Elite, a gaming accessories company. photo credit: Jeffrey Zide.
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