Arcade game manufacturer Bandai Namco Amusement America moving to new location in Itasca
A manufacturer of coin-operated arcade games is relocating from Wood Dale to Itasca. Bandai Namco Amusement America is moving into a 34,100-square-foot industrial building at 1550 West Glenlake Ave. in Itasca. The facility will be used for warehousing, storage, assembly, repair and refurbishing, testing, and distribution of merchandise, materials and games.
Bandai Namco Amusement America is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings, one of the largest video game companies in the world. Bandai Namco owns popular video game franchises, including Pac-Man, Tekken, Soulcalibur, and Dark Souls.
Bandai Namco Amusement America creates products ranging from arcade video games to air hockey tables and claw machines.
Daniel Anelli, the chief financial officer of Bandai Namco Amusement America, said the company is planning to complete the move from Wood Dale to Itasca between November and January.
Anelli said the new facility will allow the company to bring distribution and warehousing under one roof. The manufacturing of arcade games will continue in Wisconsin, he said.
"Itasca has been easy to work with," Anelli said. "We're really looking forward to releasing some great new games next year."
In March, Bandai Namco Holdings announced that it will withdraw from the amusement facility business in North America. It will transfer ownership of 35 directly-owned stores and 760 revenue-shared locations to three undisclosed companies. The decision was a result of numerous closures of arcades and amusement facilities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bandai Namco Amusement America was not affected by the decision because the company still plans to create and distribute arcade machines.