About Us

EC3 Arcade (East Coast Candy Crew) was founded by DJ "imbor3rlin3" Melodia, first opening its doors in Shelton, CT on September 14, 2024. With an emphasis on retro gaming and genuine hardware, EC3 has not only aimed to fill the void left by the closure of Smiles Entertainment Center in Milford, CT in the late 2000s, but to both foster and grow a community of arcade lovers new and old that extends far beyond Connecticut and even the US.

Thanks to the efforts of its owner and dedicated community volunteers, EC3 has grown by leaps and bounds in a short span of time. In addition to continuously expanding our collection of games and consoles, countless hours have been poured into building a professional streaming setup, hosting bigger and better tournaments and events, and more.

Check out this interview courtesy of Victor Alonso, author of Los Últimos Game Center!