Game over

Long-time Lisle arcade company closing its doors

May 9, 2008

By David Sharos Special to The Sun

Paul and Ann Biechler once thought if their business lasted five years, they'd be lucky. Evidently, they were. The Biechlers are closing Home Arcade Corp., one of Lisle's long-standing businesses in the downtown area, after 32 years.

During the first week of April, the couple launched their going-out-of-business sale, where folks could buy anything from parts to pinball machines at reduced prices.

Paul Biechler said the village allows a 60-day going-out-of-business sale with a 30-day extension.

"We basically have to sell what we can and either lease or sell the building by the end of June, assuming we use the extension," Biechler said. "Our biggest problem is in selling the building. We just began listing it with a Realtor, and we've reduced the price. We've had a few nibbles so far, but we'll see what happens."

Sales of merchandise have been much more brisk, with about half of the inventory gone already after five weeks. Biechler said a new customer to his store actually took $100,000's worth of merchandise off his hands.

"One of the things we did here was restore old Coke machines, and a gentleman came in here and was willing to buy $60,000 in parts, and when I told him about having Coke machine stuff, he said he'd take the whole thing," Biechler said. "That sale helped a lot."

A former chemist for the government, Biechler said he always "tinkered with things, even as a youth" and spent 10 years in his government job before moving on to a ServiceMaster position for three years. It was then he decided to go into business on his own.

"We moved into the building here seven years ago, but before that, we rented a building close to here on a month-to-month basis for 25 years," Biechler marveled. "It was all done on a handshake. The owner promised if he wanted to sell out he'd give us plenty of notice and we'd do the same."

Biechler said a number of collectable machines remain for sale, including fully-restored pinball games of Indiana Jones, World Cup Soccer and the former TV series known as the "Six-Million Dollar Man." Another three or four pinball machines are available "as is" for those who like to do restoration.

"We also have a couple of jukeboxes and a number of video games, about 100 neon signs, and lots or parts and tools, and furniture and cabinets that you need to run a business like this," Biechler said.

"We've been lucky so far with the sale," Biechler said. "We've probably sold 4,000 to 5,000 machines while we've been in business, so people know about us."

Customers calling about service have been assured that it will be still be provided after the Home Arcade closes by calling the business number at 630-964-2555

Biechler and his wife, Ann, both 67-years old, plan to stay in the area once the store closes for the last time.

"We're both Midwestern people from Wisconsin," he said. "I'll still be tinkering, I guess, and Ann will probably like to travel - especially when the weather gets cold."