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PRESS & NEWS
Fantasy Claw Arcade Teams Up With Las Vegas Headliner Mat Franco
Mat Franco brings Las Vegas magic to Fantasy Claw Arcade at Fashion Show Mall Fantasy Claw Arcade is bringing a new prize experience to our Las Vegas claw machine arcade at Fashion Show Mall. Guests can now win Mat Franco merchandise, show tickets, and VIP experiences as part of a new collaboration with the longtime Strip headliner. The partnership brings together two entertainment concepts built around creating memorable guest experiences, while giving visitors another way t
Aug 243 min read
The Wall Street Journal Spotlights the Rise of Claw Machine Arcades...and Fantasy Claw
The Wall Street Journal just confirmed what we've known all along: claw machines are back. On August 20, 2026, The Wall Street Journal published a feature on the return of the claw machine, and Fantasy Claw Arcade Managing Partner Brad Howard was part of the story. The piece, written by WSJ reporter Lily Belle Poling, traces how a once-dismissed carnival relic has become one of the fastest-growing formats in experiential retail. Modern "clawcades" stocked with plush toys, des
Aug 203 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Featured by Columbus Jewish News
Fantasy Claw Arcade franchise entity managing partner Brad Howard, with Todd Appelbaum and Brian Campbell, co-owners and co-operators of the Columbus location, share a moment at the June 27 grand opening at Easton Town Center. Read the full article: Fantasy Claw Arcade opens first Ohio location at Easton Fantasy Claw Arcade was recently featured by Columbus Jewish News, and the story the publication chose to tell wasn't just about a new arcade opening. It was about the relati
Jul 242 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Featured in CoStar: Why Claw Arcade Franchises Are Gaining Momentum
Read the full CoStar article: Claw arcades snatch up retail space as U.S. popularity grows Fantasy Claw Arcade was recently featured in a national CoStar News article about the rise of claw machine arcades in U.S. retail. For anyone researching a claw arcade franchise or watching the growth of location-based entertainment, that coverage reflects a bigger market trend: claw arcades are becoming a more established part of modern retail. In the article, CoStar examines why claw
Jul 232 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Opens a New Columbus Entertainment Destination in Easton Town Center
The Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, presenting Fantasy Claw Arcade with an official proclamation moments before the ribbon cutting A New Columbus Entertainment Destination Fantasy Claw Arcade officially opened its newest claw machine arcade at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio on June 27, and the response was immediate. From the moment doors opened at 10:00 a.m., the store was packed, with a line still forming ahead of the 2:00 p.m. ribbon cutting. A Grand Opening C
Jul 22 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Teams Up With Las Vegas Headliner Mat Franco
Mat Franco brings Las Vegas magic to Fantasy Claw Arcade at Fashion Show Mall Fantasy Claw Arcade is bringing a new prize experience to our Las Vegas claw machine arcade at Fashion Show Mall. Guests can now win Mat Franco merchandise, show tickets, and VIP experiences as part of a new collaboration with the longtime Strip headliner. The partnership brings together two entertainment concepts built around creating memorable guest experiences, while giving visitors another way t
Aug 243 min read
The Wall Street Journal Spotlights the Rise of Claw Machine Arcades...and Fantasy Claw
The Wall Street Journal just confirmed what we've known all along: claw machines are back. On August 20, 2026, The Wall Street Journal published a feature on the return of the claw machine, and Fantasy Claw Arcade Managing Partner Brad Howard was part of the story. The piece, written by WSJ reporter Lily Belle Poling, traces how a once-dismissed carnival relic has become one of the fastest-growing formats in experiential retail. Modern "clawcades" stocked with plush toys, des
Aug 203 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Featured by Columbus Jewish News
Fantasy Claw Arcade franchise entity managing partner Brad Howard, with Todd Appelbaum and Brian Campbell, co-owners and co-operators of the Columbus location, share a moment at the June 27 grand opening at Easton Town Center. Read the full article: Fantasy Claw Arcade opens first Ohio location at Easton Fantasy Claw Arcade was recently featured by Columbus Jewish News, and the story the publication chose to tell wasn't just about a new arcade opening. It was about the relati
Jul 242 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Featured in CoStar: Why Claw Arcade Franchises Are Gaining Momentum
Read the full CoStar article: Claw arcades snatch up retail space as U.S. popularity grows Fantasy Claw Arcade was recently featured in a national CoStar News article about the rise of claw machine arcades in U.S. retail. For anyone researching a claw arcade franchise or watching the growth of location-based entertainment, that coverage reflects a bigger market trend: claw arcades are becoming a more established part of modern retail. In the article, CoStar examines why claw
Jul 232 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Opens a New Columbus Entertainment Destination in Easton Town Center
The Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, presenting Fantasy Claw Arcade with an official proclamation moments before the ribbon cutting A New Columbus Entertainment Destination Fantasy Claw Arcade officially opened its newest claw machine arcade at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio on June 27, and the response was immediate. From the moment doors opened at 10:00 a.m., the store was packed, with a line still forming ahead of the 2:00 p.m. ribbon cutting. A Grand Opening C
Jul 22 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Is Now Open at AREA15
Fantasy Claw Arcade is now open at AREA15 in Las Vegas, bringing the brand’s prize redemption arcade experience to one of the city’s most talked-about entertainment destinations. Located inside AREA15, the new Fantasy Claw Arcade gives visitors a new way to experience arcade entertainment in Las Vegas. Known for combining strong visual appeal with a fast-paced guest experience, Fantasy Claw Arcade continues to grow in locations where immersive entertainment, high foot traffic
May 152 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Is Getting Noticed Ahead of Easton Town Center Opening in Columbus, OH
Local coverage from 614NOW and Columbus Business First is already putting the spotlight on our newest location. Fantasy Claw Arcade is already generating attention in Columbus, OH ahead of its upcoming opening at Easton Town Center. Recent coverage from 614NOW and Columbus Business First has introduced our newest location to the local market and highlighted the experience we are bringing to one of Ohio’s most recognized shopping and entertainment destinations. As Fantasy Claw
Apr 142 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Signs Lease at AREA15, Set to Open New Las Vegas Location in May
Fantasy Claw Arcade is expanding to AREA15, bringing its immersive arcade experience to one of Las Vegas’ most distinctive entertainment destinations. Fantasy Claw Arcade is officially coming to AREA15. We’re excited to share that we have officially signed a lease and will be opening our newest location at AREA15 in May. Located on the first floor past Omega Mart, the new location places Fantasy Claw Arcade inside one of the most dynamic entertainment venues in Las Vegas. ARE
Mar 182 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade to Exhibit at MUFC Las Vegas
Fantasy Claw Arcade will be exhibiting at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC) in Las Vegas, NV (March 24–26), and we’re inviting attendees to experience the brand beyond the expo floor with a live, in-market visit. If you’re attending MUFC, plan to connect with us on Wednesday, March 25: meet the team at the conference, then join us that evening at our flagship. Visit Us at MUFC We’ll be exhibiting throughout the conference and meeting with franchise operators, devel
Mar 52 min read
Serena Neel x Fantasy Claw Arcade: Play Her Machines in Las Vegas
Some collaborations live on a screen. This one lives in the arcade, where you can walk up, grab a few plays, and be part of it in real life. We’re excited to announce our newest partnership: Serena Neel x Fantasy Claw Arcade, now live at Fantasy Claw Arcade at Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. Just one day after her first video about it, the internet did its thing: millions of views. If you know Serena, you know the vibe. She’s built a massive following by turning everyday mome
Feb 183 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Featured on the Franchise QB Podcast with Mike Halpern
Fantasy Claw Arcade recently hit the podcast spotlight to talk franchising. Elliot Cole, our Franchising GM, joined Mike Halpern on the Franchise QB Podcast, a show dedicated to interviewing franchisors, franchisees, consultants, and other industry insiders to unpack the opportunities happening across the franchise world. Mike is a 20+ year franchise consultant with a talent for asking the right questions and highlighting brands that are doing franchising the right way. The e
Dec 15, 20251 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade™ Arrives in Hawaiʻi: Third Location Now Open in Waikīkī in the Famous International Market Place
HONOLULU, Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fantasy Claw Arcade (FCA), the experiential, wizard-themed claw arcade phenomenon, announces the opening of its newest U.S. location in the International Market Place in Waikīkī, Oʻahu. The new site will feature over 60 interactive machines, delivering immersive entertainment to both locals and visitors in one of Hawaiʻi's most vibrant retail destinations. This expansion marks a key milestone in FCA's rapid growth trajectory. The Waikīk
Oct 31, 20253 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Seeks Major Metro Growth After Launching Franchise System
https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_news/fantasy-claw-arcade-seeks-major-metro-growth-after-launching-franchise-system/article_37ab4adc-d2af-4f34-a47a-ca4a74b860b3.html Nearly a century after the first patented claw machine was invented, Fantasy Claw Arcade believes its wizard-themed arcade concept is the next big thing in entertainment. Managing Partner Brad Howard and general manager Elliot Cole think this is possible with the brand now offering franchise opportunities
Jul 25, 20253 min read
Fantasy Claw Arcade Goes National: Viral Las Vegas Phenomenon Launches Franchise Program, Targeting 100 Locations in the U.S.
LAS VEGAS, July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the Las Vegas Strip's fastest-growing entertainment concepts is officially going nationwide. Fantasy Claw Arcade (FCA), the wildly popular, Japanese-inspired claw machine experience, has announced the launch of its national franchise program, offering a turnkey opportunity for entrepreneurs ready to ride the wave of high-return experiential retail. Launched in early 2024 inside the Fashion Show Mall, Fantasy Claw Arcade turned a
Jul 18, 20252 min read
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