Southside Electronics keeping classic arcade games alive
Photos by Jamie Plain
It’s always a thrill to stumble upon a hidden gem of a business — especially one that feels like a portal to the past. In Owensboro, that gem is Southside Electronics, where Favian Ochoa has been breathing new life into vintage arcade games and pinball machines since 1993.
Though Ochoa originally set up shop in television repair, he later stumbled into arcade game repair, leveling up his business and helping him find his passion.
Ochoa’s journey began at ITT Technical Institute, later landing a job at Emerson radio near Princeton, Indiana, until it closed. There, he sharpened his skills in repairing television, audio equipment, and VCRs.
“During that time, I started to work on TV repairs,” he recalled, adding that people would often call to ask him to fix other electronics.
When Ochoa was laid off due to Emerson Radio closing, instead of looking for another job, he built his own business — opening a shop on Carlton Drive, where he stayed for 22 years.
For much of the ‘90s, he was busy repairing cathode ray tube TVs — the old-school bulky boxes. When LCD and then HD televisions took over in the early 2000s, it completely changed everything, Ochoa said, and he really wasn’t able to repair televisions anymore.
Fortunately, he had already discovered a talent for repairing vintage arcade and pinball machines.
Ochoa said his niche work on arcade machines began when someone called and asked him to fix their old, broken pinball machine.
“I liked it, and things just kind of went from there,” he said, crediting patience and being able to read manuals — which he finds and purchases on the internet — to his success.
No website. No ads. Just word-of-mouth.
Despite never advertising, Ochoa’s reputation extends across the tri-state area. He now operates out of 1537 East 19th Street, where he repairs and sells classic games — many of which are displayed in his shop. And though the building itself is for sale, Ochoa assures his customers he isn’t going anywhere.
Ochoa stays busy with several projects always in the works, and is willing to “take a look” at any game to see if he can help.
Well, except for claw machines.
With a wry grin, he admitted they just aren’t his thing.
And honestly? We had to agree — has anyone EVER won anything from a claw machine?! OL
