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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™ 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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