Just a heads up from a guy with a heavy heart. Toronto’s historic Funland Arcade is scheduled to empty it’s quarter boxes for the last time tomorrow. It was the last real arcade in the city — it was also one of the first having opened back in 1962. To put that into perspective, Sam the Record Man had opened across the street only a year earlier. It looks like there’s a pre-set lifecycle to landmark buildings on that block — 46 years and done.
I’ll be taking the trip into the big city tomorrow to take some pictures and shake some hands on Funland’s final day. If you see a robust gentleman with a Castro-style hat and beard, come on over and say hi.
I am so glad that this place is being closed down. It was such a dingy run down place that was frequented by the worst of Toronto’s characters. I had gone in there a few times over the past couple of years with my wife wanting to play some games however the atmosphere and people who occupied the establishment always made us feel very uncomfortable and we had to leave. I hope the new place that opens up has a more people friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
It carries such history! I am surprised they are closing it down. I have never been to Toronto, but it sounds neat!
Now where will all the drug dealers go??? This place was a disgusting, filthy hole. I would do anything to avoid going in there to protect my health and well-being. I am overjoyed that they are closing down. Thanks for the info, I might actually be more inclined to walk down Yonge street now.
Great… now those people can head on out to your neighborhood, right? I mean, shutting down their hangouts doesn’t make those people disappear…
I know they’ll all be congregating at “The big slice” now. I wouldn’t walk in there either.
I wanted ya’ll to know, back in its day, it wasn’t soooo bad… And remember, not everyone had video games in the home! It was actually lots of fun, and a great place to meet up. Admittedly, I haven’t been there in many, many years, but I’m with the OP. The end of yet another era is upon us *sigh*
it’s actually already closed.
I went while I was a teen(70’s)it was great!
25 cents bought you a few minutes of fun!
That’s when it was safe to walk up Yonge Street without fear of being shot at.
Like the OP said, it was there with Sam the Record Man.
What a great way to spend a Saturday Night!
Undoubtedly some upscale American chain will move in and take away, for better or worse another icon of Yonge Street.
This was one of the reasons I loved to go to downtown Toronto. This place had so much gaming history, (mario bros in an arcade cab) to good. The place was great if you would play the games and not spend your time wondering about the other people in there.
good riddance.
and people that go there are the scum of society.
For those with the good memories, I have more sad news. The location is going to be turned … into … a … trendy … fashion … jewellery … store … sorry …
Catherine….despite what you say Big Slice is the best place to get pizza in the city….
I was on Yonge street tonight and saw Funland’s locked doors. it closed 4 days ago, but luckily i made it there to play some pinball a couple of months ago. It was open for 46 years, but the 80’s were its heydey. Those were great memories, seems like every kid In Toronto was there (especially in the summer). Yonge street had Tons of arcades but Funland was the biggest. In the end, it was reduced to about half size , it began sharing space with a pizza place in the mid 90’s. My highlights – Rock Video Jukebox, Marble madness, Tron (back corner) and those centipede marathons with my wife a few years ago. i even kept a Funland token as a souvenir. Thanks Funland.
JelLo: The Big SLice is simply another drug dealer hang out on Yonge street aside from the old arcade. I only say that I would not go in there because of the crowd that hangs around there (scary bunch). Besides Mama’s pizza is by far the best pizza in the city.
Wow… lots of bigotry in this comment thread. Especially Catherine. How do you know who is a drug dealer and who isn’t? Are they all wearing bright green hats so people like you can identify them?
Souvenir of a misspent youth,i can somewhat verify that (dont ask me how) the guys that sold crack would often take the change they got from the panhandlers and have it converted into bills at the arcade it was kind of an unspoken you scratch my back ill scratch yours kind of deal no questions asked. Regardless this was a true Toronto landmark,R.I.P
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I just bought the Galaga game that called Funland home for so many years. So at least some of the fun will continue.
It wasn’t there for 46 years. In 1973 there was the Biltmore Theatre, Tops Restaurant and Muntz Muntz Muntz, Franks, then finally the Brown Derby on the corner. It was there in 1977, but exactly when it first appeared I’m not sure. If it was on Yonge Street in 1962 then it must have been in a different spot.