Hey, do you want to own a retro video game store in California? And (this is important) you’re not Elon Musk? Well, good news, someone is selling a game store, all of their inventory, and even theirs 15 foot tall Mario effigy just on craigslist, all for a cool $1,000,000. Why? The current owner just wants to retire after running the place for about three decades.
Based in Sacramento, California, Dave’s Retro Games Opened in the late 1980s. As recorded in an article published by Rio Miranda High School in 2018, the store’s owner and founder, Dave Smith, began selling games at flea markets in Roseville, California, back in the early ’80s. After all, he was making more money selling games than his normal job over the weekends, so he quit and opened his own shop. Over the last 35 years, the place has become a popular eatery due to its huge selection and cozy atmosphere. However, after decades of collecting, buying, and selling video games, Smith seems ready to retire.
On June 25, Smith posted an ad on Craigslist titled “Video Game Store, Age 35, 20,000 Games – $1,000,000 (Sacramento)”. And as the title suggests, Smith sells his massive collection of games, consoles, accessories and more to anyone with a million bucks to spare.
You can catch Smith and his shop in this local news segment from earlier this year:
What do you get for $1 million?
In the ad, Smith slams potential buyers for the idea of this store being handed over to a “gamer kid over 21 who doesn’t leave the house.” Smith says that buying your “gamer kid” this store is a “small price to pay to get him or her out of the store.”
So what does $1 million get you? (The ad says the price is $1.5 million if your name is Elon Musk.) Well you get the store, all the stuff in it, even his giant inflatable-looking Mario and all the games in his garage. Smith says his garage is so full of video games that he doesn’t have room for his car. The owner estimates that there are over 20,000 games in his huge collection.
my city asked Smith for comment.
So why does he quit and sell the house? I mean, besides sounding like he wants his garage back. Well, according to Smith, he’s just about ready to quit work, bluntly writing in his ad: “Just pay the money. I’m ready to retire.” Dude, I see you.
