Elk Grove’s first claw-machine arcade promises ‘child-like wonder’

A new arcade with Asian influences and an outer space theme is set to open at Stonelake Landing in Elk Grove, offering a claw-machine-focused experience tailored to all ages.

Cosmic Claw Arcade, located at 2615 W. Taron Court between 1st Position Dance Academy and Pegasus Bakery & Cafe, features a 1,200-square-foot space filled with claw machines, gashapon dispensers, photobooths and other prize-based games.

Owner Damian Ngo, an Elk Grove native, said the concept was inspired by arcades in Japan, China, and Taiwan. While an exact launch date has not been announced, Ngo said he plans a soft opening in the coming weeks.

Billed as Elk Grove’s first claw-machine arcade, Cosmic Claw aims to offer a more inclusive entertainment option in a city that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of incorporation.

Ngo said he hopes the arcade will help fill a gap in local entertainment, particularly for younger residents.

“At the heart of this endeavor, we’re looking to provide memory-making opportunities accompanied by tastefully curated and highly coveted prizes that appeal to guests of all ages,” Ngo said in an email. “As the first claw machine arcade in Elk Grove, we look to bring more than just the novelty and thrill of playing the claw; we hope to foster a culture that revolves around inclusion of all genres and tastes, community interaction and, of course, child-like wonder.”

The arcade’s operating hours have not been finalized, but Ngo expects weekday hours from afternoon into the evening, with extended weekend hours.

One of the Cosmic Claw objectives is to have guests “walk out happy and with something to remember their time spent with us by,” Ngo added.