The Galaxy Family Amusement Center is "cleaning up" its image. Charles Fuglio, the new manager of the arcade near 40th and Walnut streets, said he plans to make the establishment a cleaner and safer place for his customers. "We're doing a lot to clean the store up and change its image," Fuglio said last week. "We want to get a message out to the students and let them know that it's safe to come here." Galaxy Amusement Center Vice President Tom McAuliffe said Friday that his company realized the need to clean up this location and began working on it two years ago. "What happened actually was that the neighborhood itself was getting seedy," McAuliffe said. McAuliffe added that the company first realized the need for renovating the arcade when he helped found the Business and Professionals Association of University City which deals with security and other business issues for merchants in the area. McAuliffe said the Association worked with the University and the University City Hospitality Coalition to cut down on the "aggressive panhandling" in the area. "In trying to get that done, we took a look at our store to see how we could spruce it up," McAuliffe said. "We had a garish yellow sign that basically looked trashy. So we worked through the [Philadelphia] Arts Commission and came up with this illuminated awning which looks a lot more stylized and matches the blue of the University stores." "We also replaced the discolored plexiglass so people could see into the store and see that there wasn't anything threatening in the store," McAuliffe added. Fuglio was hired two months ago by Galaxy Amusement Center to continue the cleaning-up process for the arcade. "It really wasn't a bad place before," Fuglio said. "There was just a little misdirection, as far as what it takes to run an arcade the right way." Fuglio said that his goal was to make the arcade look "bright" and to keep the machines clean and functional through preventive maintenance. "I've put the whole store on a cleaning schedule, so that it will look attractive," Fuglio said. "I also have some ideas as far as painting the inside." He added that his employees will be very adament about preventing trouble. "I want the students to realize that this is a safe place to come into," Fuglio said. "Our attendants will not put up with any riff-raff in here giving the students a hard time. We will not put up with it." He also said the attendants would not allow any drug or alcohol use on the premises. Fuglio said that he has not hired any security guards because he feels that most security companies hire "anybody that will fit into a uniform." He added that he feels guards are not necessary because a University Police Mini-station is next door. "[University Police] have been in here and we've talked and they've assured me that they will cooperate with us," Fuglio said. "We will also cooperate with them." In addition to security and maintenance, Fuglio has also started a club for customers who want to become an "MVP," most valuable player, at Galaxy Amusement Center. MVPs receive a monthly newsletter describing new games, contests and prizes, Fuglio said. He added that any University student with a Penn ID is eligible for a free game.
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