ABOUT US:
Family owned and operated in Rochester since 1940.
OUR STORY:
Our business has been proudly servicing coin operated equipment since 1940. The first type of equipment we serviced was peanut dispensers. We supplied them to local bars. They were an instant success. As time continued Louis Grillo (Pictured at the desk) began investing is new types of equipment. This included pinball, shuffle and ball bowlers, jukeboxes, candy, soda, cigarette vending, and video arcade games.
WHERE DID OUR EQUIPMENT COME FROM?
Louis had no problem obtaining whatever equipment he needed. He would call his brother Joe Grillo (far left). Joe owned Flower City Distributors. He sold coin operated equipment to operators all over New York. Our family serviced over 70 locations in and around Rochester. If you grew up in the area you might remember USA Skate, Sharkey’s Skate-Way, Humphrey House, Olympic Bowl, Gates Bowl, and AMF Empire Lanes.
WHERE DID OUR ARCADE GAMES GO?
Unfortunately many good things come to an end. Louis passed away in 1981 as the video game boom was just starting. Flower City Amusement and Flower City Vending were then left to his wife and children. They ran the companies for over 20 years before selling off a majority of the equipment. Many machines from the 70’s and 80’s remain in our family to this day. These games are part of our personal collection and remain for home use only.
In 2018 at the age of 20 Greg Grillo, the third generation and current owner of the company decided to revamp the family business. After three years of purchasing and restoring vintage arcade games he opened Flower City Arcade. Greg does all of the repair and restoration to the games at the arcade and on location. Stop in to the arcade to say hi some time! He loves sharing his family history and effect they had on the gaming scene in Rochester. Greg continues to supply arcade games to other local businesses under the family name “Flower City Amusements”.
From our family to yours,
Thank you for keeping our local business alive!
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