In a Joystiq post i read:

"Aside from a few thriving specialty outlets in America's larger cities, we think its safe to say that the U.S. arcade industry is on its deathbed. To make matters worse, it seems that one title that could have ostensibly served as short-term life support for the dwindling arcade scene, Street Fighter IV, will not be coming to U.S. arcades, according to Chris Kramer, senior director of communications and community for Capcom.

Japanese arcades have enjoyed the company of the wildly popular brawler since July, and a few law-disregarding American arcades have imported SFIV cabinets with tremendous positive response. However, as Kramer explained, SFIV (or any other game) won't be enough to resuscitate "an industry that died off seven or eight years ago." Sorry, quarter jockeys, it looks like you'll have to get your fix on one of America's illicit imports -- for as long as they're around, anyways."

That really sucks, but it's true. The industry really died MANY years ago. A good reason why arcades are still around is the college student crowd. After a hard day at ETHICS, a student would love to go the student center and get their SF fix. good thing i reside in socal :) i live 3-5 minutes away from SUPER ARCADE & ARCADE INFINITY. im right in the middle.