Just last month, it seemed like Arcade Infinity would be able to continue providing gamers a place to get their DDR or import fighting game fix. The arcade was so packed that people were even playing board games in front of the arcade. The support was overwhelming, but this didn’t mean much to Los Angeles County. The owners of Diamond Plaza in Rowland Heights, where the arcade is located, requested an extension for AI’s business license.
LA County denied this request earlier this month, and Arcade Infinity owners Ken and Jeff Tao have already sold off many of their import arcade cabinets. Ken cited that the forced closure (of up to 8 months) in applying for a new business license rather than money was the reason for the closure. Arcade Infinity officially closes its doors on Saturday, February 26, 2011.
Brothers Ken and Jeff Tao bought Arcade Infinity in 2000, importing the newest DDR and fighting games from Japan. People traveled from all over the U.S. to play these games and experience a Japanese arcade. As the Japanese arcade market is shrinking, fewer games are being released to arcades, and more people are content to play console games at home.
