In the small town of Langley, at the edge of the downtown area, there is this huge building that held the most amazing vintage arcade and showroom of neon signs. It was my literal dream! I got to visit it only a handful of times before it heartbreakingly shut down in late 2022. Of course, I am thankful I was able to make those visits, one of them being with a cookie sign in hand. The sign was adorable and had such a fun color palette. When the arcade closed, they put up the signs for sale, including the arcade sign. If I had the funds and the space for it, that sign would 100% be in my possession.
Have you wanted to step into the past and play classic pinball and arcade games? The Machine Shop Arcade is a family-friendly environment where you can find an amazing collection of past, present and future gaming. Our arcade features over 90 classic pinball and arcade games for public play (With actual Quarters!) from the 1964 Williams Jumpin’ Jack to the 2017 Aerosmith Premium.
We support our local artists by featuring a new artist every month. Through displaying art in the gallery in the back room with an opening reception to introduce the newest artist to be featured. There are also displays around the arcade from local artist Heavy Light Works. Once a month we handpick bands to play a concert too featuring a wide range of genres from metal to folk. (source: https://www.themachineshop.org/about)
You might be asking yourself what led to the closure, and economic hardships are definitely to blame. In 2020, the owner was struggling financially to keep the business while remaining closed during the pandemic due to restrictions. It had been closed for 8 months, and with another 6 months of closure expected, a GoFundMe was created to save the Machine Shop. The owner’s mom was the first donation, and the donations continued to flood in after that. The public came together and SHOWED UP. Whidbey Island needs places like this, and the community proved it. They raised their goal to keep the building and business afloat, but sadly it was only for a short while. It was a fantastic place to visit and a beloved spot for live music entertainment for Langley residents. It will be missed!
I still kick myself for not visiting the arcade sooner before it closed for good. But considering what the arcade had been through, I’m really grateful I even had a chance to go inside.