The town’s only video arcade, Fun ‘n’ Games, is closing down after nearly 40 years in business.

“I’ve been here now, in this shop, for 39 years,” said owner John Semitecolos.

“And I felt when I had my 80th birthday the other day, I’m going to close, I’m going to sell all the machines, do a bit of renovation on the shop and I’m going to let it.”

Mr Semitecolos delighted local teenagers when he opened the Clarence St store in 1970.

At the time he had a room full of pool tables, but he said things have changed a lot since then.

Today the shop is home to 33 gaming machines, including four pinball machines and classic arcade games like Daytona, Sega Rally, Virtual Shooting and more.

“And all this time I never had any trouble, no graffiti, no windows broken,” Mr Semitecolos said.

“I treat the kids right. I’m strict, but they have to obey my law: you can’t sit on the top of the machines, you can’t run around, you can’t abuse the machines.

“That’s how I keep all of my equipment in top nick.”

Mr Semitecolos said his decision to retire was not a financial one, although business had suffered during the global financial crisis.

“Just before the collapse business was terrific,” he said.

“[Then] people were a bit scared. You know yourself that if money is tight, then the first thing that is going to suffer is the entertainment.”

But on the whole, the Port Macquarie resident said he had made a comfortable living.

“It’s been very good, of course.

“I educated all my kids ... I’ve got my own property, I’ve been on nine trips overseas, what else can I ask for?”

Mr Semitecolos is now looking out for a buyer for his beloved machines.

“I’m not going to give them away,” he said.

“I’ve put an ad in the paper and I’ve already got three or four fellows looking at the them, to buy everything,” Mr Semitecolos said.

“You can take my business, you can use my name, and you can start in Laurieton, you can start in Wauchope, you can start in Lake Cathie.

“Kids are going to go in there on the weekend and play the machines.”

Mr Semitecolos said he planned to spend his retirement fishing in Port Macquarie.

His property at 24 Clarence St is now available for lease.