Meet Clutch-Em | Grand Prairie

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Tran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Overseas in Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and more… The claw machine scene is very much alive, just as lively as those bustling cities! Imagine multiple floors filled solely with claw machines all stocked with various plushies/prizes for guests to win. Not only that, these stores actually teach their guests the art of how to win!

As proud Asian Americans (Vietnamese to be specific), we wanted to bring back that similar atmosphere to our home in DFW. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but the excitement and joy of winning prizes to take home as a souvenir of victory and success are key elements that fueled our drive to bring our vision to life. Thus, Clutch-Em Arcade located in Grand Prairie, TX at the Asia Times Square complex was born!

Our goal is to create a vibrant and fun space with specially curated plushies for families and friends (of all ages) to not only make lasting memories together but take them home! We eventually hope to foster a community where guests can learn the skills to master these claw machines together.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Clutch-Em is an arcade specializing in claw machines and specially curated plushies! We were inspired by the claw machine culture in Asian countries and wanted to create a similar space for the DFW Community. It hasn’t been an easy task but we are grateful for the opportunity to expand and share this form of entertainment with you all.

Before opening, we knew we wanted to partner up with local talent in order to bring something new to the arcade. To not only set Clutch-Em apart from other arcades but to provide a space for other businesses that may not have a physical store. We’ve only been in our pop-up phase for a couple of months now and have collaborated with 2 local artists: @Kawaiichikkie (IG) and @Petalnstem (IG).

Audra, the creator of Kawaiichikkie is a local artist who has her own line of “Chikkie” plushies. She is very innovative, always designing new products, and an overall gem to work with. For our pop-up launch in January, we were able to stock one of our machines with 13 of her designs for guests to play for (as she doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar store for customers to shop at)!

Most recently, for Valentine’s Day, we partnered up with Petalnstem! Megan is a local florist who specializes in Korean-style bouquets to create the absolute cutest Plushie Bouquet for a giveaway. We really appreciated her taking the time to collaborate with us considering Valentine’s (for a florist) is one of, if not their busiest season! She definitely exceeded our expectations and brought our vision to life.

For the future of Clutch-Em, we’ll be completely revamping the space so stay tuned for more machines, karaoke booths, a photo booth section, and more!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, we’d stop by the Asia Times Square for some Dimsum at “The Pearl Restaurant” or opt for the food court with a variety of restaurants/desserts. Then we’d head upstairs to “Clutch-Em” to play a few rounds! When you leave the plaza, be sure to use the “7 Leaves Cafe” drive-thru to order a Mung Bean Milk Tea or Summer Mint (so refreshing).

For our sushi and handroll lovers, we’d recommend “Hatsuyuki” in Fort Worth, “Kyodai” in Carrollton, or if you’re feeling a little upscale, “Uchi” in Dallas.

Another favorite spot is ‘Mikes Chicken,” undoubtedly the BEST fried chicken I’ve ever had (an absolute must-try).

A couple of our favorite dessert places is called Somi-Somi serving taiyaki or M2M in Richardson for the fluffiest (not to sweet) cupcakes/cakes that have fresh fillings with an Asian twist!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As a brand new small business, there are MANY we owe a great thanks to. Growth doesn’t happen alone!

Our first honorable mention would be Asia Times Square (ATS) being that Clutch-Em is located in the mega-complex. They are a large shopping plaza in Grand Prairie, TX that has been hosting free annual cultural events for the community for DECADES! Growing up in DFW meant spending lots of time at ATS, whether it was shopping, having family meals, or watching lion dances and attending their biggest event: The Lunar New Year. These nostalgic moments in our childhood and now being able to open our business here means the world to us. Not only that, they have truly inspired us to continue sharing our Asian heritage through the arcade! (@AsiaTimesSquare – IG)

We would also like to highlight our Clutch-Em Team Members who have been by our side. Considering we are in our pop-up phase, there have been a handful of instances that have occurred on the fly and they have been handling it like champs! As business owners, no matter the industry, there are always instances you have to pivot your idea or the process so we are very appreciative to our staff for sticking with us as we grow Clutch-Em

The list can truly go on and on! We cannot wait to continue this journey that will hopefully lead us to more inspirational individuals we’ll meet along the way.

Website: www.clutch-em.com

Instagram: @clutchemofficial

Facebook: @clutchemofficial

Other: Tiktok: @clutchemofficial