Interview with Matt Velasquez, marketing and PR manager
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I have been a collector for years, and was sick of looking at my collection sitting in my house not getting any use, because I never had time to play them. So I spent some time thinking about how I could share my games with people. Some time later, I was introduced to Anthony Johnson who had the same passion as I and an amazing collection of his own. So we combined our collections and started looking for a place to put them. Soon after that we ran across Xyla and Hyperspace. The place was a disaster, and Xyla was packing up and ready to head back to Arizona. Tony and I convinced her to let us help her revive the arcade that she didn’t have the resources to run and maintain on her own. Without knowing us at all, she said OK and we got to work. Four months later, we launched Hyperspace.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: Hyperspace offers a truly unique arcade experience. It is a bit closer to the arcades people will remember from their childhoods; however, we have added a little twist. Traditionally, arcade games would be played for one quarter or multiple quarters per credit. In Hyperspace, you are granted unlimited credits for a flat low rate of $10 a day or $45 for 30 days. Quarters are no longer required, and patrons are welcome to play as long as they like, and are allowed re-entry until close. This is a great way for players to try new games that they would not normally want to risk their money on, improve at games that are just too hard to get good at pumping one quarter at a time, or beat games that would take $5-$15 if you were paying quarters to continue.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: Watching all the smiling faces of our customers reliving precious memories, or seeing the next generation appreciate their very first arcade experience.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Space limitation. We have so much more to bring to Hyperspace, but we are at capacity. Eventually, we would like some more space. For now, however, we will be doing everything that we can to keep our arcade fresh, new and exciting for our customers. By swapping out less popular games for new ones, and rearranging the space to provide for new games and attractions, we can optimize the space that we have and we can give our customers a reason to come back and see what’s new in Hyperspace.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: Tony, Xyla and I have known each other for less than six months. We all believed that we could create something amazing, we fully committed to the project, worked our hardest and we made it everything that we could have ever hoped for.
Profile
Business: Hyperspace Arcade
Address: 1601 Reed St., No. 100, Lakewood
Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight Sunday
Founded: 2016
Contact: 303-993-5583,
Employees: 3
