Client List

We designed, fabricated and supervised the installation of a conceptually new “Hybrid” Redemption Room for the project’s owners, Trifecta Management Group. Pinnacle had been incubating the concept of a new, “best of both worlds” approach that would combine the open displays of the traditional redemption counter with the retail feel of Redemption Store or Room. The Pinnacle/Redemption Plus design removes the “fourth wall” of the Redemption Store, allowing customers to enter a designated, secure area to shop for redemption merchandise at their leisure. At the same time the merchandise is visually integrated into the game room, and the all important visual/emotional connection between the merchandise and games is maintained.

Trifecta also selected Pinnacle to implement the Hybrid Redemption Store design in its second location in Long Beach, CA and also selected Redemption Plus as its lead merchandise supplier, adopting the entire Redemption Plus system of controls and enhancements (Toys, Tools, and Training) to executing the redemption experience, in both locations.

Lattitude 30 is a 50,000 square foot venue in which guests can enjoy state-of-the-art boutique bowling, a sumptuous dinner while watching a movie in the cinema, cutting-edge arcade and billiards, sports bar/theater, Las Vegas-style showroom theater, or a chic but casual lunch or dinner in the elegant restaurant, Sunset 30 Tavern & Grill. Pinnacle was brought into the project by Trifecta Management to implement the “Hybrid Redemption Room” design we created for KDB. Redemption Plus was also selected as lead merchandise supplier, implementing the entire Redemption Plus system of controls and enhancements (Toys, Tools, and Training) to executing the redemption experience.

Is a newly constructed family entertainment center featuring Laser Tag, GoKarts, mini bowling, miniature golf and a state of the art redemption game room. We advised ownership and assisted with game selection and purchasing, layout, redemption center design, operations training, system implementation, and general project consulting.

Pinnacle assisted the ownership of this FEC including GoKarts, miniature golf, children's play area and party group sales business, which opened in September, 2008, on all aspects of games and redemption, from design through systems implementation and operations. We continue to provide advice and operational support to the ownership team.

McDermont Field House is the 270,000 square foot indoor sports and entertainment complex owned and operated by the City of Lindsay, CA. Pinnacle assisted city management in the planning and developing of the complex with emphasis on the game and family entertainment center components. We assisted in all aspects of the game room development including supplier selection, creation of the game list, layout, redemption center design, debit card provider, redemption merchandise plan and management systems, production of customized operating manual for the game room, and educating the management team on industry trends and topics as well as system training for operations.

This two year engagement was structured as an employment agreement. Mr. McAuliffe served as an executive officer of this company and managed the operation of four recreation and family entertainment centers producing over $30 million in gross revenues from family entertainment centers, indoor sports facilities, ice rinks, bowling, restaurant, group sales, and special events. He served on the design team for the development of Sports Plus, New Roc City and contributed numerous design changes and cost savings to the newest of the four locations. Pinnacle also managed the merchandise, coin operated game and attraction operations, and purchasing for the Sports Plus facilities, a division of Family Golf Centers, Inc. The Ice and Family Entertainment Centers represented a fraction the company's total sales of $175 million. After a major acquisition of golf centers by the parent company failed, the company filed for reorganization under Chapter 11. Mr. McAuliffe assisted the company in the sale of the Ice and Family entertainment facilities, which sold for in excess of $110 million. Many of the facilities continue in operation today.

Served in a senior advisory role to the Disney management team for the development of the DisneyQuest and ESPN Zone restaurant/entertainment concepts. This was a two year engagement culminating in the successful launch of the concepts. Our contributions centered on business modeling, facility design, layout, game and attraction development, purchasing programs, merchandise programs, and management systems design and implementation.

Provided advice to this national leader in the operation of ice skating centers, including operational audit, contract reviews, and identification of efficiencies, policy and procedure changes to enhance profitability. Pinnacle also teamed with Polar Ice to assist with their management services business to outside clients.

Pinnacle provided management services for this arcade and FEC chain's operations in Puerto Rico "from the cradle to reward." We began this ten year relationship by securing a lease for the company in Plaza del Sol, Puerto Rico's newest shopping mall. We also assisted with design, economic planning, attraction selection, construction, and grand opening. We retained an interest in the project and continued to serve the client through a multi year management and consulting agreement. We then structured the company for sale, developed the prospectus and marketed the business, negotiating the successful sale of the business to an international operator.

Pinnacle has been retained by this regional cinema chain to advise it on game room and family entertainment attraction issues for several of its projects. We advised on and assisted implementation of the addition of a game room to the company’s new state of the art multi screen theatre complex in York, PA and reviewed game operations, planning, design, and execution for major redemption game rooms in planned SuperPlay Bowling FEC’s in several sites.

Pinnacle assists the ownership of this franchise pizza restaurant chain on the prototype addition of a redemption game room to the concept. We assist in economic planning, space planning, game room design, game selection, acquisition, and placement, implementation of redemption management system and controls. We will also provide training and key support items to ensure that the operation was properly trained and equipped going forward. Redemption Plus designed and fabricated the Redemption Center for this facility.

Pinnacle assists the Shakey's management team with the operation and development of their entertainment offerings. Shakey's USA is the recently formed franchisor of Shakey's Pizza, a national restaurant and entertainment chain. The new management team, which Pinnacle supports, is charged with leveraging the good time heritage of the Shakey's name, developing a new and refreshed brand identity, and updating an entertainment experience to appeal to a wide age range. Pinnacle played a key role in establishing chain management techniques to the Game Room and in developing the new, go-forward prototype.

Stevi B's has retained Pinnacle to assist the management team in improving its game operations and developing the entertainment component in their go forward restaurant prototype.

Pinnacle assisted the owner of this franchise pizza restaurant and games operation in the conversion of his game room from predominantly video to predominantly redemption. We assisted in game selection review, redemption center design, acquisition, and placement, implementation of redemption management system and controls. We also visited the site, provided training and key support items to ensure that the operation was properly trained and equipped going forward.

Phase 1 of this project involved working with the International Family FoodService, Inc.'s CEO on feasibility and developing an understanding of Family Entertainment Center and Game Rooms, as well as relating best practices to the Philippine market. We then created a Game Room prototype, pilot project, and chain management system for the introduction of game rooms to the 95 location Shakey's Pizza restaurant chain in the Philippines. Scope of services included developing international suppliers, facility design and layout, game and attraction selection, redemption center design, management education, merchandise plan, and establishment of standards of operation and standard operating procedures, operating manual, and report design.

We are assisting the investor group with the opening of the first of what are expected to be numerous Shakey's in Mexico. We played a lead role in the design, layout, game selection, import logistics, supplier selection, and operational system implementation for the project. We also advised on the unique challenges of implementing redemption in Mexico, given prohibitive tariffs on toys manufactured in China.

The Auburn location was the first new franchise under the reinvented, go forward model of this venerable pizza brand under the Shakey's USA ownership. Pinnacle assisted the franchisee in all aspects of launch: economic planning, game room design, layout, supplier selection, game selection, redemption center design and implemented all aspects of the redemption merchandise and merchandise management system.

Pinnacle has been retained by a southeastern U.S. city to assess the feasibility of creating and executing a major family entertainment and recreation center in the City. The initial phase includes the development of a feasibility and conceptual plan. The project details are currently confidential.

Our client National Retail Properties (NPR), a major shopping center developer, took possession of this location from its original tenant, Amazing Jakes. It subsequently signed a long term lease with a new tenant for the space and asked Pinnacle to advise on the liquidation of furniture, fixtures, and equipment. The 50,000 square foot space included a major FEC and full pizza buffet restaurant with five dining rooms and full kitchen. We assisted in managing the liquidation including facilitating an absolute auction process with favorable results for the our client, NPR.

National Retail Properties is a real estate investment trust, investing in single-tenant retail properties generally subject to long-term, net leases. National Retail first retained Pinnacle to assess two of its tenant locations, big box family entertainment center/pizza buffet operations. We performed an appraisal, including site survey, contents inventory and valuation on all entertainment equipment, restaurant equipment, furniture, and fixtures for the two sites in the Denver and Dallas markets. We continued to serve the client in a subsequent engagement six months later. Pinnacle conducted an appraisal and valuation of five FEC properties located in three cities. Scope included appraisal, including site survey, contents inventory and valuation on all entertainment equipment, restaurant equipment, furniture, and fixtures for each of the five sites.

Pinnacle has been retained by this nationwide game and FEC chain to assist with the marketing of certain assets as part of a strategic repositioning of its operations.

Pinnacle worked with the ownership team in developing the Business Plan for this full service 120,000 square foot Indoor Recreation Complex with a central focus on Mountain Biking. The facility will be geared towards athletes of all types and ability levels and located in central Long Island near the Nassau-Suffolk border. Ray's East will feature a wide array of attractions including a fitness club, game lounge, and restaurant. Pinnacle gathered the market data and produced a comprehensive Prospectus/Information Memorandum for investors, real estate owners, and municipal partners.

Pinnacle provides management services for this arcade and FEC chain's operations in Puerto Rico. We began this ten year relationship by securing a lease for the company in Plaza del Sol, Puerto Rico's newest shopping mall. We also assisted with design, economic planning, attraction selection, construction, and grand opening. We retained an interest in the project and continued to serve the client through a multi year management and consulting agreement. We then structured the company for sale, developed the prospectus and marketed the business, negotiating the successful sale of the business to an international operator.

During the merger process between these global manufacturers, Pinnacle was retained to provide extensive research on the US marketplace. We conducted "on the ground" surveys of product placement in select markets, and produced and extensive analysis of the U.S. market for Sega.

Pinnacle analyzed Fantasy's coin-operated Crane program, personnel development, systems implementation, and revenue growth for this worldwide operator of toy cranes and photo booths. We advised the ownership to downsize its crane operations in favor of focusing on the core photo booth business. Pinnacle assisted with the sale of crane assets.

Assisted the owner in developing the sale prospectus for the business, as well as developing the marketing strategy, which contributed to its successful sale.

Founded by George McAuliffe in 1996, Pinnacle was an amusement operator in some 75 locations, primarily serving Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, in Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri. Pinnacle partnered with a local operator in San Juan, PR to operate an additional 75 locations throughout Puerto Rico. Both businesses specialized in crane and merchandise machine operations, along with video games, kiddie rides, and bulk vending. Pinnacle was active in a series of acquisitions and divestitures:

In 1995 Mr. McAuliffe served as chief executive of the $50 million entertainment division of Edison Brothers Stores, Inc. (NYSE:EBS) The parent company was a national retailer with $1.75 billion in shoe and apparel sales. Edison experienced a significant decline in the business of its core shoe and apparel stores which led the parent to file for Chapter 11 protection late in the year. Mr.McAuliffe structured a management buyout plan for his division, attracted the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners as equity investors, negotiated a binding finance agreement with a major Bank, and received bankruptcy court approval for the acquisition, subject to higher and better bids. The Sun Group withdrew at auction in competition with Namco Cybertainment, Inc. a Japanese industry manufacturer with US operations, collecting a break up fee. Over 90% of the entertainment locations continued in operation under the new owner.

Advised the managing foundation on wind up and negotiated the placement of the collection.

Divestiture of twenty properties through sale or liquidation resulting in income exceeding budget by over 100%, producing a return of over 80 cents per dollar of book value in a Chapter 11 environment.

Pinnacle has been selected by Brunswick as its exclusive business partner for Games, Redemption, and Family Entertainment Centers (FEC). We work with the Brunswick Capital Equipment Sales Team to assist existing bowling center operators upgrade their game rooms or convert excess bowling capacity into game rooms and family entertainment centers. We also assist the Brunswick team in assisting new center investors in developing the game and FEC component. Pinnacle's capabilities include: business and economic planning, FEC/game room layout, redemption center design, game and attraction selection, game/attraction pricing and purchasing strategy, redemption merchandise and management, human resources, training, marketing, and operations management systems.

In the latest chapter of our multi-year relationship with Redemption Plus, we serve on the management team and are designing and managing the company's 'Customer Success' program. Pinnacle brings our experience in managing family and location based entertainment centers to bear to assist Redemption Plus' customers in operating and building their businesses.

Mix and Burn is the developer of digital music listening stations. Originally developed for music retail locations, mix and burn is in the forefront of mp-3 and cell phone music player 'digital download filling stations.' Pinnacle developed strategic assistance, market research and location agreements as our client developed it's Out Of Home Entertainment Network.

Assisted management in concept development and product marketing including planning for the highly successful launch of its VR Performance Theatre at IAAPA 2000 (Voted Best New Product). Pinnacle was instrumental in forging several strategic relationships for Ham On Rye in the launch process, including Six Flags Theme Parks.

Assisted this marketing firm in penetrating the family and location based entertainment industries to introduce its location advertising program. Successfully signed over 700 locations to the program.