99 Ranch Market
Last week Judy and the kids were at the local 99 Ranch Market and they saw this. It’s a crane game, except that instead of stuffed animals or toys, the prizes are live lobsters.
It costs 50¢ per try. I wonder how often someone wins?
There weren’t any bags or containers obviously nearby. So what happens if you do manage to get a lobster? Do you have to carry it around with you as you shop, its rubber-banded claws feebly waving in distress? Should you bring your own bag in anticipation of winning a lobster?
Do all 99 Ranch Markets have these machines?
(The folks over at HawaiiThreads.com noticed this machine a while ago, but I’d forgotten about that thread until Judy showed me her photos.)
So many questions…


October 12th, 2005 at 7:42 am
Maybe they don’t expect anyone to catch one since there’s no bag or something to put it in. I wonder how long the lobsters have been in there and does some one come by to feedem’ or woteva it is one does to lobsters in captivity. Does the Board of Health or Humane Society know about it? *L*
Malama pono.
October 12th, 2005 at 9:03 am
Glad you mentioned your blog @ hawaiithreads.com. Will visit more often. I’m auntiepupule.com aka 1stwahine! Great pic’s!
Lynn
October 12th, 2005 at 9:10 am
No, not all Ranch 99s have them. Mine doesn’t (sniff).
October 12th, 2005 at 10:18 am
Lika: I wonder, too. But I guess it’s not that different from a restaurant with a lobster tank.
Lynn: Thanks, although like Kimo said, the flash reflection messes up the image.
Kathy: And you’d want one?
December 13th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
Okay, I can finally report from the 99 Ranch Market in Phoenix. No lobster machines here. Damn.
January 7th, 2006 at 12:46 am
We went to one!!! And it was TWO dollars to try. We didn’t win. We were VERY disappointed.
January 28th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Lloyd: So go lobby them and tell ‘em they gotta keep up with the Hawai’i 99 Ranch.
Dana: Was it the Hawai’i one? Or do they have one near you?