Astoria’s Gizmo’s Retrocade catches second wind

Community outpouring of support keeps doors open for now In a Nov. 2 Facebook post, owner Roger Nikunen announced that Gizmo’s Retrocade would be closing its doors on Nov. 15. Nikunen, aka “Retro Rog,” cited “financial setbacks, declining sales, costly repairs, operational challenges and ongoing problems in our downtown neighborhood” as key reasons behind his decision to close the arcade. Following the announcement, Nikunen said he and the retro arcade have received an outpour of community support. So much so, that just three days later, Nikunen announced on Nov. 5 that the arcade will be keeping its doors open and its arcade machines plugged in for the “foreseeable future.” “I’m actually excited for the future, though it’s still uncertain,” Nikunen said. Since Nikunen announced Gizmo’s closing, he said he has received support from patrons, some of whom donated $5,000 to help keep the arcade open through the month.

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