Arcade Fire

Tahoe startup is expanding its waistline

Back Update Aug 1, 2014 By Christine Calvin

When we spoke with the young founders of Arcade Belts last year (“Arcade Winnings,” by Kibkabe Araya, October 2013), co-owners Cody Townsend, Tristan Queen and David Bronkie had just opened shop in a Squaw Valley showroom after months of stitching their durable, all-weather belts on a living room floor.

Now, the trio has expanded their accessories company, which caters to adventure sports enthusiasts who wear their belts during extreme weather and activities, into a new 1,100-square-foot office at the base of Alpine Meadows.

They’ve also hired their first employee. Arcade Belts are available at retailers in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Sweden.

Recommended For You

Wijit Wheels Ahead

One year later the once-budding business is booming

Just as the July 2013 magazine was going to bed, Comstock’s learned that the subject of our cover story, Wijit Inc., had been sold to Kinova USA. Wijit Inc. was the brainchild of Brian Watwood, the one-time elite athlete who was paralyzed in a fateful bike accident.

Jul 1, 2014 Douglas Curley
Arcade Belts, a 3-year-old startup based in Squaw Valley, is supplying all-weather belts to retailers in six countries.

Arcade Winnings

An all-weather accessory company advances to the next round

A slope-loving trio needed durable, weatherproof belts that would fit comfortably, last a long time and look good. So the self-proclaimed ski bums decided to make their own. Olympic Valley-based Arcade Belts launched three years ago from a living room and specializes in belts made specifically for winter-sport enthusiasts.

Oct 1, 2013 Kibkabe Araya