On March 11, 2025, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Lepsch during a company event filled with games and delicious food. Michael is the owner of Arcade 92, which has a location in Flower Mound, Texas, as well as a second location in McKinney. You can explore more about Arcade 92 at their website: Arcade 92.
Todd Friedman (TF): Are you originally from Texas?
Michael Lepsch (ML): I’m actually a Yankee! Born in New York and lived briefly in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I first encountered video games at eight years old. I’ve now spent over two-thirds of my life in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, so while I’m not originally from Texas, it feels like home.
TF: When did you decide to open an arcade, and why did you choose these locations?
ML: Interestingly, I thought about opening an arcade back in 2018. While going through my parents’ attic, I discovered a box of drawings from third grade, including one where I expressed my dream of opening a video game store with a thousand dollars! It seems I had this passion from an early age and just forgot about it.
TF: Do you own both locations, and which opened first?
ML: We launched our McKinney location at the end of 2019, specifically on November 29, which is also Pong’s anniversary—a date I was eager to secure. We opened the Flower Mound location a week later, on December 4, 2023, due to delays from city inspections.
TF: How was the initial reception and what has turnout been like?
ML: The reception in McKinney was fantastic! I viewed this as a retirement job, so I had some apprehensions on opening day about whether it was a good idea. However, we were busy from day one and have maintained that momentum. In Flower Mound, I felt a lot more confident, and the response has also been very positive. Both locations have thrived, and I enjoy every moment of it!
TF: How essential is machine maintenance, and how do you handle wear and tear?
ML: Initially, I handled all the technical work myself, but we now have four technicians on the team. I taught myself through online resources, and it’s great to have a youthful team. Maintaining old machines is challenging; when a monitor fails, it often involves sacrificing another game to fix it, which is never an easy decision.
TF: What does it take to keep Arcade 92 fresh? Do you frequently circulate games?
ML: We rotate about three titles every month, which is effective given we can swap games between our two locations. We have around 120 games in Flower Mound and about 100 in McKinney, plus several more in storage, most of which are operational.
TF: Do you see yourself opening more arcades in the future?
ML: Perhaps! For me, this is more of a fun retirement venture, stemming from my desire to stay engaged after leaving my previous demanding job.
For the full interview with Michael, please visit Old School Gamer Magazine.
To learn more about Arcade 92, visit their website: Arcade 92.
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Original article by www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com
