The Scoop Shoppe Family Fun Center records document the establishment of, and the day-to-day activities of, the arcade and ice cream shop during the 1980s. Coin-operated video games such as Space Invaders (1978),Asteroids (1979),Pac-Man (1980), andDonkey Kong (1981) fueled the explosive growth of video game arcades in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Scoop Shoppe was one of more than 20,000 arcades in business by 1982.

The “Operating Methods and Philosophy policy,” cash reserve agreement, purchase agreement addendums, owners meeting notes, and other administrative records provide insight into operating an arcade. Financial documents consist of handwritten inventories but also include cost analyses, game collection reports, correspondence regarding the business loan, and an amortization table for 1982.

The many handwritten notes by Robert Benson throughout the papers document his daily to-do lists, thoughts and ideas on potential promotions, financial issues, and conversations he had. They also include questions for attorneys, financial professionals, business associations, and industry experts, sometimes recording the answers he received.

Because Benson’s main responsibility once the arcade was operational was promotions and marketing, the records are also comprised of hand drawn coupons, notices to customers about special events, promotions, and rule changes, proofs of marketing materials, and notes about marketing ideas such as “Free Plays” and “Two for One” games. Reference materials used by Benson include newspaper articles about licensing fees and the general arcade business, a copy of Dick McNicholas’ pamphlet “Amusement Machine: Your Route to Success,” 1981, and pamphlets from the Small Business Association, Management Aids series.

The records also contain many interesting visuals such as photographs of inside and outside the arcade, complete parts and operating manuals for Centipede, Ms. Pac-Man, andQIX, and fliers forPonpoko, Sky Bumper, Xargon, MOGUchan, Sky Lancer, Super Rider, andStar Trek.

Market saturation and a lack of innovation in the mid-1980s sent profits tumbling and led many arcades to close their doors. The records document the difficulties the Scoop Shoppe experienced with coin-op vendors, security, crime, poor reputation, and lack of experience and can be seen in the handwritten notes, correspondence, and internal memorandums.