About Us
About Deep 6 Arcade
Just before the COVID lockdowns, arcades everywhere went dark. For those of us who had spent three or four days a week in front of pinball machines, video games, and mechanical classics, that didn’t sit right.
With a single $100 bill, the first machine was purchased — a broken Williams Blue Chip (1976). Nearly twelve hours later, it was running again. That moment made something clear: owning and restoring these machines was possible.
As the lockdown eased, more games became available. A few turned into several, and a simple idea emerged: if we could repair and restore machines for others, we could continue building and preserving a collection of our own.
Deep 6 Arcade began as a pinball repair and restoration operation serving the greater New Haven, Connecticut area. We took in machines that were non-working — or close to it — and invested the time needed to bring them back not just to operating condition, but to dependable, playable condition. The goal was never simply to turn machines back on. The goal was to save them.
As the collection grew, so did the community around it. Friendly competitions developed into organized tournaments, and more players began joining. What started as restoration evolved into something larger: a place where players could challenge themselves, refine their skills, and share the experience with others who appreciate the craft behind the games.
Deep 6 Arcade exists for people who value playability, authenticity, and competition. We believe these machines deserve to be experienced the way they were originally intended — properly maintained, finely tuned, and ready to be played.
Whether you are looking to compete, improve your skills, or simply enjoy games that are cared for the right way, Deep 6 Arcade is built for you.
Since those early days, the mission has expanded. We began selling arcade equipment and placing them in public spaces so people could once again experience the simple thrill of three balls and a high scores. Now, as we prepare to open our largest public space yet, we are proud to bring our experience to Stratford, Connecticut.
Why choose Deep 6 Arcade to maintain your equipment? For starters, we take pride in returning and keeping games playing smooth and reliable. No matter what game(s) you own, they need tune ups yearly. Keeping up on maintenance means the investment you put into your equipment is protected. Pinball machines date back decades. Imagine driving a car from the 1950’s and never taking it to a mechanic.
We know these games are large and heavy. For that reason, we offer house calls. It’s not easy to repair these games on the road and that is why you want a professional. You may also arrange for your equipment to be restored at one of our three shops.
Currently we have trained technicians at our three shops in Connecticut
House calls are as easy as filling out a contact form by clicking one of the locations above.
Most manufactures went out of business decades ago. We have a wide verity of parts vendors and a deep reach into the arcade community., which enables us to find obscure and out-of-production parts.
Outside of our service area? Fill out a repair form and we can provide over the phone consultations or a recommended tech in your area.
Customer
“I cannot thank Deep 6 Arcade enough for the restoration work Ryan did on my Blackwater Pinball machine. My late husband brought it home from a Trade Show. (He designed and built trade show exhibits and Congoleum, the flooring company, was a major client). That machine came from a Home Builder’s Show in Las Vegas, somewhere between 1989 and 2006.
It means a lot to me to have it working again (which it hasn’t done for over 20 years…. )”
-Judy
Customer
“Our game would light up but not start a game. Deep 6 Arcade was able to get us up and running as well as teach a lot about the history of pinball and basic cleaning and waxing.”
-Steve
Homage to the 80’s
As mentioned, we started by saving games from landfills. Protecting their original intentions are key to our goal. This means all machines are set to their original cost per play.
We have machines that take everything from a dime a play to a dollar coin for four plays.
It only feels real when you have to drop a coin to play.
Why “Deep 6 Arcade” ?
For those not familiar with the term “Deep 6”, it is darkly defined as burying someone 6 feet underground.
We decided that the ultimate point of an arcade by the operator, is to put distance between your pocket change and the player. So we called it “Deep 6’ing your pocket change”. Seemed like an honorary way to represent the games we are saving.
Hence the name: Deep 6 Arcade.