By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — A Loves Park company that developed the first self-scoring electronic dart machine has been acquired in a move that pairs it with a major jukebox brand.
TouchTunes Music Co., a New York-based company that has its connected jukeboxes in more than 65,000 venues across North America and Europe, has acquired Arachnid 360. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
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Arachnid, which employs about 55 people at its home base at 6212 Material Ave., will continue to be led by company president Sam Zammuto after the acquisition. He will lead the dart board operations and report to Dan Hamric, executive vice president at TouchTunes.
The combined company employs about 350.
Arachnid, which was the 2022 U.S. Small Business Administration Illinois District Office 2022 Small Business Exporter of the Year, is best known for its BullShooter brand. The soft-tip electronic dart board is in more than 30,000 bars and restaurants across the country.
“Arachnid, with our BullShooter connected dartboards and tournaments, is synonymous with soft-tip electronic darts,” Tony Beall, co-owner of Arachnid, said on behalf of the ownership group of Arachnid. “Through our complementary strengths, TouchTunes and Arachnid will deliver even more seamless experiences for consumers and growth for the venue and operator community.”
TouchTunes has an office in Schaumburg, about an hour from Loves Park. The two companies have known each other for years, often selling to the same community of operators and serving many of the same consumers.
TouchTunes said the acquisition will allow the combined business to provide consumers and operators with a comprehensive interactive entertainment ecosystem. TouchTunes said it is committed to investing in darts and growing recreational and competitive play.
Arachnid will continue to operate under the Arachnid, BullShooter, and Spider 360 brands.
“We are ecstatic to join forces with the Arachnid team. This acquisition is a huge leap forward in our mission to spark joy and human connection through unforgettable entertainment experiences,” Ross Honey, CEO of TouchTunes, said in a news release. “Both companies are pioneers in pushing the boundaries of interactive, out-of-home amusement. Together, we will make the in-venue consumer experience even more connected, engaging, and personalized.”
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Arachnid was incorporated in 1975 by Rudy Allison, who developed the first machines with Dick Jones. The company was sold to Paul F. Beall, who helped fix early issues and set the stage for the company’s growth. John Martin bought ought the business in 1989 from Beall to become joint owner with Mike Tillery, according to the company. Then in 1996, Martin bought out Tillery.
Three sons of Beall — Tony, Chris and Shawn — purchased the business in 2014 from Martin’s estate. They renamed the company Arachnid 360 and hired Zammuto as president.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas