My pals and I lived at Pirates, an enormous arcade housed in a fortress at 7090 Coral Approach in Miami. Pirate’s Theme Heart opened on December twenty sixth, 1983, only a few miles from my house in Westchester.
My world wasn’t the identical after that day.
Positive, there was Citadel Park (later Malibu Grand Prix) proper subsequent to Halfway Mall (now Mall of the Americas), Chuck E Cheese in Hialeah proper on forty ninth subsequent to the lately opened Toy R Us, and the Mark Twain’s Riverboat Playhouse proper close to Don Carter’s Bowling Alley on Kendall Drive & 137th.
Pirates Theme Heart was the place to be for us Westchester & South Miami youngsters. Most folk who bear in mind Pirates referred to as it by the identify popularized by abuelitas (grandmas), who introduced their grandchildren there, Los Piratas.
Pirates Theme Heart was crammed with the most well liked arcade video games of the day and a bunch of interactive video games. Your wins had been paid in tickets that may be traded in for a whistle or another merchandise you simply needed to have while you had been a child.
Later, they opened a 22,000 square-foot second wing behind the constructing, together with a type of ball pits and bumper boats, amongst different sights.
Did Pirates Have Good Pizza?
My dad and mom introduced my sister and me to Pirates often, and we attended a handful of birthday celebrations, which meant hangin’ within the theater, consuming & watching the animatronics present. I particularly recall the pizza tasting good, however I used to be only a child, so perhaps I bear in mind all of it incorrect.
My first encounter with Dragon’s Lair’s animated online game was my most vivid reminiscence at Pirates Theme Heart. It in all probability holds the lifetime report for taking probably the most appreciable quantity of quarters from me; I used to be horrible at it (and it was 50 cents a recreation again then).
Newspaper Articles about Pirates
My greatest guesstimate is that Pirates Theme Heart closed early in the summertime of 1992; since closings aren’t coated by the media as a lot as grand openings.
Look What I’ve Bought!
When you’ve received any Pirates or Piratas tales, for that matter, please depart a remark. I’d love to listen to them. And if you happen to’ve received any photos, me love you very long time.
*Earlier than its incarnation as a toddler’s leisure middle, it was Coral Approach Drive-In, Lindsley Lumber, then Davidson Lumber Yard; it’s presently a Pollo Tropical.
**Pirates Theater image courtesy of Marisol Geilin Sosa