ATTN: Southern California Arcade gamers
Taken from Shoryuken Forums-
First post-
Quote:
SHGL is closing!! NO JOKE!!
http://www.ci.stanton.ca.us/ccagenda.pdf
They want to tear down SHGL and put in apartments!!
Please, anyone in the area on tuesday please come down and show your support for SHGL.
We are all meeing at SHGL at 5:30, then heading to city hall from there.
This is NOT A HOAX!!
Please make this thread sticky. We dont have much time!
If you intend on going. Please dress appropriately.
Post from SHGLBoss-
Quote:
<sigh>
We've tried to keep this whole situation under wraps because as early as a month ago the city council (at least the Mayor and another council member) seemed intent on denying the zoning change due to traffic issues as well as a possible detrimental impact on the surrounding businesses. The city Planning Commission actually voted down the project last month on a 3-2 vote but according to the upcoming agenda on Tuesday the city council now seems intent on changing their position to allow the re-zoning. The city council has final say over any decisions. I'm not sure if the final decision will be made on Tuesday.
If it is the end, it's been a wonderful run. SHGL still makes money but in today's economy it is more profitable and makes more financial sense to sell the property at this point. The same can be said of almost any Golfland location right now...if the price is right then they also can be sold. Stockton Golfland was nearly sold a few years back. I can only imagine how much the land that some of the norCal GL's sit on is worth--especially SVGL.
Until that day comes we are still open for business and still are moving forward with tournaments, new games, etc. I will be in Florida for 2 weeks to see about 2-3 new games that I hope to secure beta testing for. Please do not let any of this speculation inhibit you from coming to SHGL...it's business as usual until we learn otherwise.
I really do greatly appreciate your concern and desire to make an appearance at the city council meeting. All that I ask is that your dress appearance and any comments that you may present to the council be in good taste; please be mindful that they may frown upon at any unruly teenagers and reason that it may be just well that the location be closed if it attracts undesireables (in their eyes) into the city. I will be soliciting the appearance of some families as well as some local public school and library officials to whom we made community donations to help demonstrate SHGL's contributions to the community. Unfortunately, I will not be in attendance that evening since I will be in transit to Florida on business/vacation that night.
If the unthinkable does happen we already have plans to move a majority of the SHGL machines to Camelot (maybe create a SHGL area) and we hope that you all follow. The upside to that is that there is plenty of room and parking there for tournaments. I don't have any idea on what the timetable would be for any changes should we have to make any move.
As for me, it's a very painful time right now. My own personal history with SHGL goes back to 1970 when I first started going there as a 5 year old and was fascinated with the games and miniature golf. I got hired on in 1983 as an arcade attendant and have progressed to a dual position as SHGL's assistant manager and Golfland's arcade division manager. It took a lot of time and sweat to build up SHGL's reputation to what it is now and I am very proud of its standing and recognition in the player community. And I thank you all for your patronage and support to be a part of it all.
Sincerely yours,
John Bailon
Ryan2dx from my forums-
Quote:
There was a city council meeting tonight which talked on the topic of the condition that SHGL is in.. Here are some quotes from a SHGL regular who attended the meeting.
"For the past 18 months, Shiggle has had declining revenue. This does not mean that they aren't making money; they are. It means that they are making less money than they had been previously.
As a result of this declining revenue, the owners (Which is another story I'll go into later), have decided that they would rather sell the land than keep Shiggle running.
They have tried to sell it to commercial businessmen, but none of them have accepted the offer. Now, Brandywine Homes comes in and says: "We're interested in your property."
"We'll buy your property off of you, however, there is one problem: This is a Business Zone, and as a result, we can't buy it just yet."
"To buy this, we must go to the city and have them change the zoning so that it is designated as residential
And at the meeting tonight, they have decided to change the zone from business to residential, and this allows for Brandywine Homes to build on the property.
The result of this is that in (30) days, the zone will change, and within (2) weeks after the zone change, SHGL must be evacuated."
Just giving you guys the heads up. Theres is also a damn near 100% chance that this is going to effect ALL Golflands. So there goes basically the only good arcades in California since the decline of Arcade Inifinity.
