TORRANCE, Calif. – The hum of go-kart motors revving, arcade jackpots paying out, and miniature golf players celebrating a hole in one at the Mulligan Family Fun Center in Torrance will soon be a thing of the past.

“I started here as a, entry level position and worked my way up and worked pretty much every position here,” Kevin Altobelli, VP of Operations said.

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Altobelli is now the VP of Operations for two of three Mulligan Family Fun Center locations. Over the years, the games and attractions have changed, but he said the reason the business first opened hasn’t.

“This started as a hobby by our founder to be a fun affordable amusement place in the South Bay and it has evolved now for over 25 years,” Altobelli said.

Julian Irons has been coming to Mulligan’s since he was a kid. He spent birthdays here playing with friends and making memories.

“My mom has spent way too much money on me for tokens for the arcade and I had a whole bunch left after everyone was done and leaving and I just ended up playing in the arcade until I met some other kid with the same problem and we just sat down and played an arcade game where you shoot a bunch of spiders,” Irons said.

But in 2016, the business’ founder Georgia Claessens died from a horse riding accident. After three and a half years her family made the difficult decision to close down this Torrance location that has created memories for people of all ages like Irons.

“That’s sad. It’s going to be weird seeing whatever is here after Mulligan’s is gone. It’s going to be weird seeing something else here,” Irons said.

The arcade has also created memories and an experience for employees who work here.

“As technology has come, the games have changed through the years switching from tokens to a digital system and yeah just a ton of memories not only for the employees and myself but for the community and all the kids that have come in and out of here,” Altobelli said.

This happy place in Torrance will soon close its doors this coming February 17.  The Claessens family shared a statement about the closure, “The family would like to thank the South Bay for supporting their mom’s dream for over 26 years.”

Until that day comes, employees like Altobelli will do their best to keep the smiles going and leave a happy legacy for the community to remember.

Mulligan Family Fun Center's Palmdale and Murrietta locations will remain open.