Game Over For B&I Amusement Center on July 21

An era of amusement is coming to an end at the B&I.

The Lakewood public market’s famed amusement center – Mikey’s Funland –will be closing its doors on July 21 after some 45 years in operation.

It will be conducting an online auction for its goods – everything from arcade video games to pinball machines to its photo booth – later next week and will be out of the building by the end of this month.

Owner Mike Barton told Patch that the main reason he is deciding to leave the B&I is, quite simply, he couldn’t afford the increase in rent.

For Barton, 61, he is closing a chapter in his life that spans more than four decades. He first began working at the amusement center when he was 16, then he and his wife bought the business in the early 1980’s.

“I loved it,” Barton said. “For years, it was an incredible place to work. There were always huge promotions. So many nice people. I’ve met more people than I can count.”

In the last week or so, generations of families who frequented the amusement center have stopped by say goodbye, play a game and to reminisce.

“To have a following like that, I was very lucky,” he said. “I’ve been blessed.”

For those who’d like to own a piece of B&I nostalgia, Barton has put nearly every piece of Mikey’s Funland up for auction online via cyberauctions.com. He will hold a viewing of the items for those in the auction July 23, and the auction will be over July 25.

So we want to hear from you, Patch users. If you've lived in the South Sound for any amount of time, chances are you've visited the amusement center at the B&I. What are your favorite memories?