- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Salem Willows Arcade
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
30 reviews for Salem Willows Arcade
One of the handful of places on the North Shore you have to visit. Great old time arcade, with all the eats. Walking area with some beaches.
Lots of locals/biker contingent, but family place so you'll have a blast.
Folks say popcorn at Hobbs is as good as it gets. Feed it to the pigeons at your peril:-)
Growing up near Salem we went here for most outings as kids and loved every second of it! Filled with classic pinball, skeeball, and every kind of game under the same! They have since changed the layout a bit because of the crowds and parking is no longer free.
It's a great place to go to enjoy some classic video and arcade games but don't go during an event and not expect a crowd. The place is always mobbed on hot summer days. And try to park away from the arcade and avoid the meters.
Still a great destination! Just be aware of when you go!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
What a fun place for a date! Of course its filled with teeny boppers like it sholdl be and obviously the classy north shore peeps, but it is a cute little place in Salem to go to. The games int he arcades are pretty cheap, usually a quarter to play, and of course skee ball rocks my world.
So ok, the only disturbing thing was the price of the prizes...so you have to pay 60 tickets for ONE tiny warhead candy. 60!? Thats like $5 worth of games.
If you get hungry there are tons of food choices on the small strip..mm and ice cream.
Ahhh the Willows, where to begin. I would imagine that back in the day, the Willows was at the top of the food chain, but now, I am not so sure.
The Willows boasts around 20 different food and ice cream vendors, two arcade/ casinos, a very small mini golf course and a kids area with age specific rides. Situated right on the water, the view is beautiful. There is lots of grassy areas to play, lounge or eat and even a hatch shell where live music is preformed in the summer.
Early evenings and days during the summer are a great time to go, but at night time I would use caution. It can become crowded with teenagers and showboaters with loud cars trucks and bikes.
Parking is metered.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Wow, like the Bob Dylan song......The Times They Are a-Changin'........
I come here every year or so and this place gets progressively worse. It's pretty sad. There is a decent selection of games here, but many of them have broken buttons and I counted four that were out of service yesterday.
The pinball machines are always a good thing, gives you that feeling of being a kid again...........before the times of Playstation and XBox.
The staff here, is understaffed. One girl working the counter for prizes, one guy handling technical duty on the machines/various games. I'm sure they could spring a little bit of extra cash for another part time high school employee. Everyone is looking for work.
This place used to be in much better shape, and yes I understand that time takes a toll on the condition of a building and the items inside.......but damn a small amount of money to get this place repainted and maybe a little refurnished........would go along way.
Rather disapointing for me and my memories and feeling of nostalgia.......but it's great for kids who don't notice the difference.
this shit's amazing. there was a lady there that was WICKED PISSA SERIOUS about one of the quarter-pushing games. as in, she wasn't gettin up fo NOBODIEZ and she kept her tickets in a ziplock bag, a.k.a. she came prepared. i don't even think she was with kids, f.y.i.. perhaps she was trying to take home the grand boom box prize, which retails for $89 but would, in the end, probably cost her her mortgage.
the games rule. go give yourself a bad back playing super low skee ball. go try to win an ipod shuffle for $2 a whack in the crane machine (and fail because the packaging doesn't really "work" with the crane itself). go win a webkinz in one try, bitches, just like i did!! enjoy the three photo booth options (one in the casino, two in the arcade) and be prepared to wait 3-6 minutes for the photos to finally come out, feeling hot and smelling of not-quite-right eggs.
all the classic games are there. there are some old timey movies for a nickel. test your love skillz in the "wheel of love" and the one where it tells you "the thrill of your kiss." it rules that they still only cost a dime.
go play one song on guitar hero for a dollar per person, especially if you own guitar hero: world tour at home.
shit's awesome here. i love that there's an awesome mix of old and new machines, and there isn't any real attempt to totally modernize the place. i love it so so so much.
People thought this was:
- Funny (4)
- Cool (1)
There is nothing better on a warm summer night than to take 20 bucks and go and play skee ball until the late hours of night. The fact that the machines at the Willows cost next to nothing and there are a ton of pinball machines, air hockey, and other games there also is an added bonus!
A great place for a cheap, fun date. Parking can sometimes be tight, but I've never really had a problem finding a space.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
This review is for the arcade but also for the Willows in general. We had soo much fun there. There are pizza places, a million ice cream shops, a bar, the ocean, and tons of open space to picnic on. The willows are beautiful and it's a great place for a family or to go on a date. Free parking, cheap arcades and endless fun.
The people watching is worth 2 stars alone.... you definitely get an interesting (but usually friendly enough) crowd - its worth coming down, playing some of the vintage games (or if you're more into new ones go for it). If you're an adult with other adults, do give any tickets accumulated to kids (or their parents, don't be creepy!). What else... take a stroll, grab an ice cream or slice of pizza - you can easily have a few hours of fun for under 20 bucks, which is great.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
I remember going on the little boat ride and playing skeeball when I was little. I was cleaning out a box of old toys and actually found some tickets that I was probably saving for an awesome giant stuffed dinosaur. Fun ticket games and regular arcade games next door (The Simpsons and Ninja Turtles arcade game!!)
A great place to spend an afternoon/evening. I still go down there just grab some ice cream, popcorn, or a chop suey sandwich and throw down a few quarters at the arcade.
However, parking can be ridiculously difficult on a weekend afternoon.
And just to cement this important point that every else has brought up, avoid the bathrooms. seriously.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)
I think this is a fun place for what it is. Don't go expecting Dave and Busters, though they do have the Deal or No Deal game which is probably their newest addition at Salem Willows. It is a small time arcade with some cool antique games and the usual skeeball, pinball, videogames, etc. There are a lot of food options like Chinese, pizza, popcorn, ice cream and slush, and salt water taffy.
This place is perfect for my boyfriend who grew up in Philly and spent many summers on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore. Well we may call it the beach up here, but it gives him that old familiar feeling of being a kid with a pocket full of quarters and games galore. Nostalgia is everywhere at Salem Willows Arcade. I personally love the fortune teller machines and trading in my tickets for ring pops at the prize counter.
The Salem Willows is an incredibly unique place, one that I loved visiting often when I lived in Salem. There just aren't many places you can go nowadays for entertainment and food priced at around one buck.
The Willows attracts a wide array of people, from reckless pre-teens to tourist families, but everyone tends to be wrapped up enough in their own activities that they all get along well. The boardwalk can be pretty crowded at times, but there is plenty of room to expand to once you grab your food and are finished with the entertainment. The spots along the water are particularly nice, and I've never had trouble finding a bench.
The food is just what you'd expect at this type of place (pizzza, fried dough, slushies) with some nice exceptions. The Chinese food is of legend, not necessarily for its taste (one of their sandwiches was enough, thank you), but for their cheap food offerings. The old candy place at the very end has some of the best popcorn I've ever had, and apparently has excellent ice cream as well.
As for entertainment, I personally love the $0.50 pinball machines, and 1990's arcade games like House of the Dead.
Interesting enough, the only time I've ever had trouble parking was a random Tuesday at noon. Seriously, don't people have work during the day? It's still usually quite possible to get a spot somewhere close. I like parking on the grass as for some reason it seems to add to the whole feel of the place.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
Salem willows is one of the best places to visit and have fun.
-cheap food
-fun arcades
-air hockey-
-pinball
-pretty park to eat at
-the best photo booths around
-old fashioned penny games
-ice cream
-boat tours of the coast.
It's cheap and fun with friends, on a date, or with kids. You can't lose!
the one and only bad thing? The bathrooms are NASTY, it's totally worth it though.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (5)
The Salem Willows Arcade is one of two arcades that line the strip of amusements and food of Salem Willows. This arcade is just that - an arcade. Go in expecting to find video games, pin ball, dirty floors and people, and no A/C. Of course, if this is what you're looking for, then it's perfect.
Personally, I love how kitchy it all is. Most of the games are throwbacks to the 80's. Some of the games even date back to the 40's and 50's. How fun is it to find out if you're a good kisser or how much you weigh (for 10 cents!)? It's very fun. :o)
Overall, a good arcade for kids and friends. There is this one motorcycle game that you can race against three of your closest friends. It's from the early 90's, but really fun. You even get to sit on the motorcycles!!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
When I get to missing Paragon Park, I head up to the Salem Willows Arcade.
Cheap, Old-School, and its the a great way to feel like a kid again. Nice ride up, and its a real park. Y'know - trees, the shore, families enjoying picnics.
Bathrooms-SCARY.
I can recall coming here with my family when I would visit my cousins in the summer. It was pretty fun and we were there for quite awhile. It would be a a great place to go for something different instead of going to the movies or the mall.
The Arcade - how do I describe thee? Two words.
MONKEY BAND
Worth every dime you put in it. One of a kind - certainly the only one in the world that I'm aware of. 9th wonder of said world. Truly...
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (1)
After reading everyone else's reviews, we decided to give it a shot for ourselves. It was a bit of a gamble because it's just so far away from the Aluminum Chefs' home base of JP. But to all you negative Nancys out there - for shame! This place is really fantastic. First, as you may have read in other reviews, there is a machine featuring a bunch of dancing monkeys - it exists and it's absolutely amazing We have a picture if you don't believe us.
This arcade features a huge selection of old-school and new-school video games, pinball, and even a whole bunch of wacky old-timey mechanical games from the 40's & 50's (try the baseball one - we say it's by far the best game there!) also, air hockey and SKEE BALL! Aluminum Chef C. preferred the strange basketball-by-numbers game. One of the coolest thing about all the old machines is that they're all in working condition and only cost 1, 5, or 10 cents! Totally worth it to see something so unique - the dancing clown machine will haunt your dreams! Cheap photo booths, too!
The 'boardwalk' is actually really nice, and has a bunch of little restaurants featuring everyones favorite beach foods - fried dough, nachos, ice cream, and awesome popcorn courtesy of Hobb's (real butter!). The king of foods down there, however, has to be Genghis Salem - who had a chicken chop suey sandwich for about a buck fifty - worth it for the bragging rights alone.
There is also a few other, smaller arcades and attractions, mostly aimed towards little whippersnappers. There are also some really nice fields for picnic lunches and a great view of the water. As a bonus, you can kick it around Salem center for a bit, which is a pretty happening place. Try the Engine House for pizza!
The bathrooms are the least maintained part of this 1883 relic - and quite possibly might be original. But you ain't goin' in there to sightsee, anyways.
Have fun and bring your change jar!
Beach? What beach? You actually call that a beach? Hahaha.
Sure.
At any rate, this place is okay at best. I keep getting dragged there once a year by my friends in order to quench some better childhood experience that they had years back. Otherwise, it's a cat walk for scene kids and their shitty hair cuts, or bad apples whose parents obviously don't supervise where they go or who they're with. All set bringing my son there and exposing them to the trash that hangs around the vicinity.
The food is meh. Someone I know ate fries there and got food poisoning two years back. Not to mention you have to fight for somewhere you can park and NOT get towed.
Otherwise, enjoy.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)
I enjoyed coming here as a kid, and it's not so much that I've outgrown Salem Willows as it is that they replaced the wooden skeeballs... with plastic. WTF?
Absolutely terrible. There is literally no reason to go there now. Except maybe the popcorn place, but even then, I'd only be thinking about how Salem Willows ruined skeeball.
EDIT: Okay, re-visited the Willows because my dad had a craving for a 'chop suey sandwich' -- the popcorn isn't as good as it used to be, but I'm adding 2 stars because now all is right with the world, they did restore the classic wooden skeeballs.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Best photobooths ever! tons of video games! air hockey! on the waterfront! This place is great, I go especially for the booths... none in boston compare-whatsoever.
and i love watching the goth kids go at the DDR machine with their brought-from-home boom boxes blasting pantera or NIN
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
This is a great place to spend the afternoon or evening. You can get cheap eats. Be easily entertained by either people watching, playing arcade games or games that you win tickets on and get cheap prizes. Its a nice place to go and watch music when playing in the band stand. The only gross thing about it is Dead Horse Beach. The worst beach I have been to in Salem.
They also host Mahi Mahi cruises which I have yet to be on.
I was a loyal customer at Salem Willows for well over 20 years but those days are over. Yesterday was my friend's only day off before he leaves for California. I called the Arcade at about 1:00 PM and asked for operating hours. I was told they would be open until 9:00 PM and to "come on down!" Well we drove over 30 minutes, arrived at about 6:00 PM, and they were closed! I am so pissed off. With the price of gas why would they lie to paying customers?! When I called today for an explanation I was told they closed "because no one was there." That is just unacceptable, unprofessional business practice and will be reported and reviewed as such. I've spent a lot of money at their establishments and even had to buy disgusting Peppy's food just to use a bathroom! They can't think they are professional business people with such disregard for customers. Don't waste your time or money there.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
The Willows is treasure, but like all of Salem, it is more potential than it delivers. 5 stars for the Chinese joint (get the chop suey sandwich, it is the consummate Willows experience), 5 stars for the popcorn joint (the machine that makes it is older than you (no matter who you are), 5 stars for the views, 5 stars for the arcades with old time games (old time baseball games, atari, pinball, etc.). Negative 2 stars for getting rid of the old skeeball and replacing them with new machines. 100 point holes in the upper corners... WTF? But the worst violation of all: THEY REPLACED THE WOODEN SKEEBALLS WITH PLASTIC SKEEBALLS!!!!! The friggin horror.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (1)
You've got all the makings of a retro fun day here. There are many benches under the shady willows for people watching. Cute little boats bob in the harbor. Time suddenly slows down for awhile as you try to imagine those "good old days." Just ignore the screaming children, pigeon poo and the funky smell of the arcade... But in all honesty, I really came for one thing only: the photo booths. You just gotta try it! It was worth the day trip out to Salem just to spend $2 for a strip of black & white photos. Ahhh...the memories :)
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (3)
I don't think I can appreciate this place the way people who grew up in Salem seem to. A fun place to kill an evening in the summer though.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
Needs more ticket games!
Full disclosure: I grew up in Salem, and used to come here as a kid. Thus, it's got a nostalgic connection that won't easily be torn down.
I believe that you have to rate anything for what it is, within its own terms, and The Willows is a very special place on the North Shore. Unlike something like Weirs Beach, which is near the highway and in the middle of tourist country, the Willows is about as far from 95 as you can get without actually taking a boat into the water. Meaning that it's a place that caters primarily to locals, and has that special charm that is rarely found in similar establishments.
The way to enjoy the Willows is to come here on a hot summer day and spend your time leisurely. Do the arcade in one trip, then do the casino (where you can win prizes) in another hop. Look around at the casino while you're there - the building has been standing forever, and the old wood lattice work on the unused upper balcony really harkens back to the old days.
DO NOT miss out on Hobbes' popcorn, made in a hundred year old machine and is, in my opinion, the best popcorn I've ever had. For lunch, there's a ton of great greasy places around - Hobbes does good grill food as well, and you can't go wrong with fried dough or Italian ice for snacks after. The Chinese place is a local favorite for their Chop Suey sandwiches, which sell for a whopping buck fifty.
And make sure to explore the park as well. Go down by the water and walk out onto the docks, where you'll see locals fishing. Check out the old concert stage too, and the old picnic houses.
The Willows will always be a magical place, but I don't think you have to have gone since you were a kid to feel it. Just take it on its own terms (not for tourists!) and eat it up - things like this disappear every day never to be seen again.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
For those who did not grow up in Salem, the Willows is a place that has seen better days. There are some highlights worth mentioning.
Physically speaking it 's a beautiful spot, a little peninsula that juts out into the ocean between Marblehead and Beverly covered with big shady trees. Food: One of the few places that you can get chop suey sandwiches. At a buck and a half they're not bad. Hobbs is the place for great homemade ice cream, salt water taffy and superb popcorn made in a hundred-year old machine. Arcade: some cool old school games that may bring you back to long forgotten days of blissful childhood. A band of animated monkeys that play music when you deposit a dime or the dancing clown on strings that you control. A fortune teller machine (remember "Big" with Tom Hanks?) Fun photo booths, skee ball games. Kiddieland: rides from the good old days. Who can forget those little boats (with bells) that go round and round in a moat filled with water while you clang away. Or the old cars and motorcycles, and fire engines you can ride on as they circle a cone of bright neon lights, honking horns or pressing buzzers. A beautiful old carousel. Or the little caterpillar ride where the top folds down over the car you are in. Salem should be ashamed at the way this unique little park is maintained. It is always filthy with overflowing trash cans everywhere. The public bathrooms are disgusting, the kind of place you might find a certain US senator from Idaho hanging out. The benches are broken or covered with toxic substances or DNA samples. Visitors can't resist feeding the pigeons and seagulls which now overrun the place. It's a damn shame.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)
This place is ghetto. If you want food + arcade, just go to D&B.
