Visitors looking to play a little skee-ball, House of the Dead 4 or Rambo at GameWorks in Ybor City are out of luck.
Sega Entertainment USA inc, owner of the arcade, abruptly closed the facility today. A news release cites the challenging economic environment and says the company shut down seven GameWorks locations as part of a restructuring plan.
That doesn't sit well with Janice Henry. Her granddaughter has a birthday planned on April 15 at GameWorks. A relative booked the party and was about to send out invitations.
"I just called her to tell her that we came down here to take these two to Gameworks and the store is closed. And she had no idea," said Henry.
GameWorks on 7th Avenue in Ybor City is locked up, but inside, lights from games still shimmer and blink. A paper on the door tells customers, "Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have been forced to close this GameWorks location."
People holding to pre-paid game cards are wondering what will happen to the game credits they bought. Jacre Healp has $50 on a card given to her by a friend.
"We came to Ybor to have a good time. Came here to play skee-ball with the kids. We got nothing," said Healp.
An email from the public relations firm representing GameWorks said the company is still examining what to about game card credits, bonus points and other loyalty features. The company hopes to have decisions on those questions soon, the email said.
GameWorks' departure leaves a 28,000-square-foot hole in the Centro Ybor complex. Opened in November 2000, it now leaves 57 people without a job. Eight GameWorks locations will remain open, including one in Fort Lauderdale.
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