Last week, Sheila Buxbaum Fitlin and Sandy Fitlin, whose families have operated businesses in Coney Island for more than six decades, sold the building that houses the Eldorado Auto Skooters and Arcade at 1216-1218 Surf Avenue to Thor Equities. For months Coney Island insiders knew of the pending sale as well as the possibility that the bumper cars and arcade will open for one more season, in the same way that Astroland remained open the year after it was sold.
“We’re actively working on negotiations,” arcade operator Gordon Lee told ATZ on Monday. Lee’s company Sun Star is a longtime provider of arcade machines to Coney Island, including the Eldorado as well as the now-closed Astroland Arcade and Faber’s Fascination. Last season Lee managed both the bumper cars and the arcade for the Fitlins after the death of their son Scott in October 2010. The bumper cars have undergone pre-season maintenance and passed inspection and are ready to open on Coney Island’s opening day if an agreement can be reached with Thor Equities.
Sandy and Sheila Fitlin. April 17, 2011. Photo © Coney Island History Project. All Rights Reserved
Scott Fitlin was the DJ extraordinaire of Surf Avenue’s legendary disco palace of “Bump, Bump, Bump Your Ass Off” bumper cars and his untimely death at the age of 48 left the attraction’s future in question. His parents had retired to Texas and left the bumper cars in his care. It was a gift to Coney Island and a tribute to his memory that the Eldorado reopened last season. ATZ asked the Fitlins for a statement about the sale of the Eldorado and their years in Coney. Sheila Buxbaum Fitlin sent us the following note via email:
It is with deep regret that I sold Eldorado. Due to my advancing age, the fact that I live in Texas, and, of course, Scott’s death, I could no longer continue.
As one of the last of the “old timers,” I view a legacy in Coney Island that spanned three generations and lasted almost 60 years. I pay homage to those of us who shaped Coney Island–
The Buxbaum & Fitlin Family, Jerome & Carol Albert, Denos Vourderis, Freddy Garms, Norman Kaufman, Ronnie Guerrero, Jeff Persily and any I may have forgotten.
Eldorado established an entity that became a standard of the industry. The Bumping Disco was known worldwide, reproduced somewhat once in Japan, but never really successfully duplicated anywhere. Eldorado was one of the very first of the FECs. Today the concept is everywhere and much embellished upon. Many years ago we had plans to extend to other areas, but it never came to fruition. Unfortunately, we were never really recognized or acknowledged by “the new Coney Island.” Oh, what things the “old timers” could have taught the “johnny come latelys.”
I only wish that Scott had not died and the next generation could have persevered.
GOODBYE CONEY ISLAND, and most of all, goodbye to those I love.
Our friend Scott Fitlin told us about the history of the Eldorado in a March 2010 interview. It begins: “Eldorado was hand built by my grandfather Joseph Buxbaum, my Dad Sandy Fitlin, and my Uncle Peter Buxbaum, and a carpenter named Rafael. Opening date was March 21st 1973, admission was 50 cents and 25 cent re-rides. The FIRST record played was Cisco Kid-War!”
In a 2007 interview in the Coney Island History Project’s Oral History Archive, Sheila Buxbaum Fitlin recounts how her parents met in 1930s Coney Island when her mother was working in a frozen custard stand at Bowery and Stillwell and her father was selling hot corn next door to Nathan’s.
In the 1940s, the family opened the Shamrock Irish House, a restaurant, cabaret and open air bar with singing waiters on Henderson Walk and the Bowery. Customers would throw money onto the stage. “I can recall as a child–10, 11, 9–going there, getting a stage-side table and my father would give me a roll of dimes and set me up with my Coca Cola,” says Sheila in the interview with Charles Denson.
In the oral history interview, Sheila says the family switched over to games in the mid-1950s and had one of the first-ever water racing games. The Eldorado building was at one time the Pleasureland Arcade and was won by the Buxbaum and Fitlin families in a closed bid auction in 1971. The building is located mid-block on Surf Avenue between Denny’s Ice Cream and the Popper Building, a few doors down from Thor Equities property at the corner of Surf and Stillwell.
UPDATE March 20, 2012, 9:00 AM:
UPDATE April 12, 2012:
Good news! Gordon Lee of Coney’s Eldorado Bumper Cars phoned to say he’s operating the ride today & open for business! The arcade will also open this weekend for the season. Hours at the Eldorado are “12 noon till closing.”
Eldorado Bumper Cars and Arcade, 1216 Surf Avenue, Coney Island
Eldorado Bumper Car Crew. April 26, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
Related posts on ATZ…
November 18, 2010: Good News from Coney Island! Eldorado “Bump Your Ass Off” Bumper Cars To Reopen
October 17, 2010: Photo Album: Oct 15 Tribute in Sound & Light to Scott Fitlin
October 13, 2010: Rest in Peace: Scott Fitlin, Coney Island’s Eldorado Man
March 14, 2010: Eldorado Auto Skooter: Coney Island’s Disco Palace of Bumper Cars
Amusing the Zillion 
Thank you for this wonderful post – so much history. It hurts my heart so much, all the way in Texas, to hear about the El Dorado closing – it will always be such an integral part of Coney Island’s survival from the older generations to the modern day. Having been fortunate enough to know Scott casually during my years in Coney, it goes without saying that this news brings him poignantly to mind… he was such a fighter in the struggle to save the older buildings/businesses in the amusement district. He’ll be very much in mind today, and for some time to come…
Thanks for this great post, and my thoughts go out to the former owners… Here’s one of my favorite pictures of a family watching the bumper cars:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vdna-sgfa8I3oSNLe0_auNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
Love the blog, keep up the great work!
Sorry to hear of the Closing of Eldorado. All things eventually must pass,The best to the Sandy and Sheila. From Rich Formally of AST Sound ,Now in Sunny Florida and Colorado.
Oh, my heart. If only there had been another buyer. My fondest wishes to Sandy and Sheila.
Richard Eagan
am so sorry to hear that, but everthing must change for the future :
my memories are riding the bumper carts and the fun we had 50 years and counting, be bless and enjoy your days ahead.
i can understand there desire to retire, and no next generation to take over the family business. Just if it was anyone but Sitt. Scott is looking down with a broken heart.
Eldorado, Pleasure land ….. We’ll miss you.
Very sad indeed. Eldorado/Coney Island was my home away from home. The Eldorado holds a very special place in my heart and always will. Oh, the memories.
Lori Fitlin
Wonderful memories cuz. :-) We are so fortunate to have them.
I still go to Eldorado, its very much not closed and Sandy can be seen there =]
Its a pretty great place, I just wish they had the 3rd strike machine again!!
yes! the bumper cars and arcade reopened this past weekend for one more season
AS THE SISTER-N-LAW TO SHEILA AND THE AUNT TO THE LATE SCOTT
FITLIN, WISH GORDON ONLY THE VERY BEST OF LUCK.
WE ARE ALL FAMILY, NIECES NEPHEWS & COUSINS HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES
Sandy and Sheila are two of the very nicest and most generous people I have ever met. They are special people. They worked as hard as anyone and I hope they are well. I love them both.
I worked at the Bumping Disco, both at the arcade and cars and was treated as family instead of an employee.owning a business today in South Florida, l respectfully treat my employees as l learned working at the “The Eldorado Bumping Disco” My heart and my prayers goes out to the family.
Wow! Just came across this while waxing nostalgic. I also worked at the Eldorado “Bumping Disco” & the arcade, circa 1974-1976. So sorry to hear about Scott, who was about 2 or 3 years younger than me. Was a great kid! I remember grandpa Joe – a real pistol, who like my dad really promoted a great work ethic! Met my first then-to-be wife & had first kiss in front of Eldorado! Had a couple of fights there too, but still great memories! Sandy & Sheila still look the same… They helped inspire me to be a business owner/entrepreneur too! I own (Integrity First Realty & Business Brokerage) on Staten Island. I wish them a long healthy, happy retirement. God bless the entire family!
Thanks for sharing your memories, Robert. I want to let you know the Eldorado Bumper Cars and Arcade are still open under new management. Gordon Lee, who is in the arcade business, managed to keep it going. Along with the rest of Coney Island’s rides, the Eldorado will open for the season on Palm Sunday.
Has Denny’s reopened anywhere? I can’t believe it has closed for good. It is Coney Island history.
This weekend LunaTic Ice cream opened on Surf a few doors down from the former Denny’s. Same menu, same banana pistachio. Denny is working with them!
https://amusingthezillion.com/2014/05/26/photo-album-opening-day-for-5-new-businesses-exhibits-in-coney-island/
This
thank you!
Norina