Not long after graduating from Missouri S&T, Ben Roth and Gavin Hays are hitting “start” on their entrepreneurial journey.

Roth and Hays build custom arcade machines in St. Louis for individuals and businesses, right from Roth’s home. Their company is called STL Arcades.

A 2024 computer science graduate of S&T, Roth is the founder and president. 

“I saw a video online of people building custom arcade machines,” Roth says. “I’d already worked with software, so I thought, ‘I could probably figure out how to build these and sell them locally.’”

Roth’s business partner, Hays, a 2025 business and management systems graduate, is the company’s sales manager.

“My role is really about connecting the right people with the right machine,” Hays says. “Every build has a story behind it.”

STL Arcades machines allow users to play thousands of classic games, from 1980s arcade staples to early 2000s favorites, all customized to the buyer’s preferences. Roth and Hays say their personal favorites include Donkey Kong, Robotron and Golden Tee.

“There’s something really fun about taking something old-school like arcade games and giving it new life,” Hays says.

Building something new

After being laid off from Walmart headquarters, Roth decided to take a risk. Instead of another 9-5 job, he decided to turn his passion into a business.

“I said, ‘If I’m going to try something different, it’s going to be now,’” he says.

In January, he began building arcade cabinets using rented equipment from a St. Louis makerspace. He sourced software from vendors and taught himself the physical construction process. Customers can choose everything from the cabinet style to the artwork, which is often themed around favorite games or pop culture franchises. 

“It’s all customizable,” Roth says. “I tell people to pick their favorite games and create a list that’s personal to them.”

So far, his customers have primarily been individuals upgrading home game rooms or basements, but Roth has bigger plans.

Growing beyond the garage

While the business currently operates out of his home, Roth is already thinking ahead.

He and Hays are working to expand into business partnerships, placing arcade machines in locations like restaurants or break rooms through revenue-sharing models. Long term, Roth hopes to grow STL Arcades into a national e-commerce brand capable of shipping machines across the United States.

“There are only so many customers in St. Louis,” he says. “If we can reach people nationwide and keep adding new products, that’s where we can really grow.”

Future ideas include expanding into new types of machines, like pinball or specialty arcade setups, all centered around enhancing entertainment spaces.

Don’t wait: just start

Roth credits his time at S&T, especially the relationships he built, as a large factor in launching his business.

“The biggest thing S&T gave me was the network,” he says. “I was able to ask people for advice on how to build these cabinets, what tools to use and how to get started.”

He met Hays through Sigma Nu fraternity, where the two formed the connection that would later turn into their business partnership.

“It’s crazy how a friendship in a fraternity house turned into a real business partnership and something we’re building every day,” Hays says. 

For students considering entrepreneurship, Roth keeps his advice simple: don’t wait.

“Just start,” he says. “A lot of people stay in the planning phase too long. You don’t really learn what works until you actually try it.”