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From panties to video games
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Strangers are cordially invited to come play with expensive electronic equipment and lounge in the plush leather couches occupying the old Pink Panties store off State Street.
The co-owners of the new video game oasis, Kevin Hough and Erik D’anan, sat beneath the glow of the white lights that give the room its club-like feel and explained their vision for the place.
“Just like people enjoy playing pool, bowling and going to the movies, people like their technology,” D’anan said. “I wanted to provide a place where they can gather outside their own bedroom or office.”
For Hough and D’anan, this State Street hangout is what they call a new twist to the popular Internet cafe concept and will soon be Madison’s first “electronic lounge.”
Despite not officially opening until late April, the brightly lit electronics have been attracting more than just moths, as many people have already wandered in to check the place out and play a game or two.
Madison resident Jason Cann, 20, said it was thirst that brought him to his comfortable spot on the couch on a Friday night.
“I was walking home from buying a case of Dew one night and found these guys,” explained Cann. “And now I’m just chillin’.”
D’anan looked down at the watch on his wrist and explained that anytime from 6 to 10 p.m., you never know who will pop his or her head in to check the place out and perhaps stay for a while. At night, he said, gamers’ avatars — from baseball players to heavily armed soldiers — dance on huge high-definition television screens by the windows for passers-by to see.
“It’s funny because you’ll see people walking by, and they squint their eyes because they’re trying to see what’s in here,” D’anan explained, laughing. “Then we’ll go out and invite them in for a tour and show them around.”
Customers might initially scratch their heads when they see the old lingerie store sign above the entrance doesn’t seem to fit what they see through the store windows. However, the words “PC Makeover” will soon cover up the former store’s faded “Pink Panties” sign.
Employee Brian Dickinson joked there will not be any lacy lingerie at this electronic lounge.
“Last time I checked there were definitely no panties here,” said Dickinson as he looked around the room full of serious gamers, dark lighting and loud speakers.
For the serious gamer, this lounge is beginning to serve as an ideal hang out.
“This is definitely a pretty sweet setup for me,” Cann said, staring intently at the TV screen and not blinking an eye.
Cann wore black gloves on his hands to get a better grip of the controller as he played “Halo 3,” a video game he considered himself pretty good at. He was not hesitant to admit his love of gaming.
“I’d definitely call myself an overall gamer,” Cann said as he jumped to his feet during an intense moment in the game. “We are a bunch of geeks, and I am proud to call myself a geek.”
To enable dedicated gamers like Cann to stay focused on their game, D’anan said customers will just have to holler for any refreshment they want.
“All you have to do it say, ‘Hey can I get some Skittles over here?,’ and we’ll walk over, and we’ll give it to you,” D’anan said.
The co-owners’ goal is to have somewhere between 200 and 300 prepackaged snacks available, some of which were already displayed neatly in the front counter.
“It’s like the Cheesecake Factory and their menu of, like, a hundred different cheesecakes,” D’anan said with a smile.
Life for the gamer does not get much better than on-hand snack delivery, comfortable seating, great deals and top-notch equipment.
“The best part is being able to go to a place that has all your favorite games,” Cann said, adding he will be forever grateful for the late-night trip for Mountain Dew that brought him to PC Makeover.
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Playing pool and bowling have alcohol and usually some kind of real food. And most beginners can enjoy them. The niche for this market is pretty small. Coin-op games are more accessible by a larger number of people, and we’ve already had a coin-op arcade on State street fold. Best of luck, guys.
So it’s all free?
To anonymous above, who says that Coin-ops are more accessible to a larger number of people, and that since that wasn’t sustainable, neither will be this, by implication.
Enter the 21st century, where the fastest growing demographic of gamers is women in their 40’s. This cafe may not service them, yet, but serving them will be as easy as changing a disk. There are tens upon tens of millions of gamers in the US who haven’t missed Silent Scope or Ninja Gaiden, since the mid nineties. Most gamers are grownups and are massively liquid. Their children play before they can read.
A niche market? Hardly. I just wish I could have had mine built first. I can’t wait to check it out.
Looks like it never even opened…