Classic games arcade is opening in Oviedo

Adrian Ravelo has more than 100 game cabinets lined up for his new arcade opening in Oviedo — from Street Fighter and Tron to Donkey Kong Junior and Rampage.

The former Department of Defense project manager spent eight years collecting arcade games from across Florida and the United States. He now plans to open a spot that reminds him of the quarter arcades in his childhood.

Arcade Monsters is set to open in a 4,000-square-foot spot by the end of October near Alafaya Trail and Mitchell Hammock Road. The address is 15 Alafaya Woods Blvd. in Oviedo.

Ravelo is planning to make the arcade and all-you-can-play facility, charging $22 for a daily pass. He also plans to sell beer, wine, hot dogs and other snacks.

A handful of arcades have opened up in Central Florida, led by ticket redemption and entertainment centers such as Dave & Busters, or Joysticks Arcade Lounge. Ravelo said he wants an old-school arcade, not a “barcade” or ticket redemption entertainment facility.

“I want somewhere I can take my kids,” he said.

His father ran an arcade while he was growing up in New York and he also remembers honing his skills on modified Street Fighter cabinets in the back of bodegas.

“I want to hang up world records on the cabinets so that people can try to set their own records,” Ravelo said.

He’s also collected games such as Dragon’s Lair, Q*bert, Asteroids Deluxe and Killer Instinct.

He also plans on pleasing fans of new games like Fortnite with a 200-inch screen where gamers can hook up to internet-based gaming.

Arcade games are popular with collectors, with most of the bigger hits selling for $500 to $800, Ravelo said. But some of the more expensive models can go for as much as $2,000, such as his Tron game cabinet.

In the end, Ravelo hopes he can create a social hangout for kids based around some of the favorites from the golden age of arcades.

“I made a lot of good friends in arcades,” he said. “Gaming just isn’t social like it used to be.”