About Us
A Legacy of Service: Nearly 80 Years of Gator Coin
For nearly 80 years, Gator Coin has proudly served Jacksonville, Florida, and the surrounding communities through dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to customer service.
The story began in the late 1940s when Jacksonville native Edwin Aaron “Bud” Bright Jr. returned home from serving his country during World War II. Like many veterans of his generation, Bud was determined to build a better future. He founded Gator Coin, recognizing the opportunities in the growing amusement industry. He began with penny gumball machines, where a single penny bought a piece of gum, and soon expanded into cigarette vending machines. As the business grew, Bud added jukeboxes, bringing music and entertainment to restaurants, clubs, and gathering places throughout Northeast Florida. These machines quickly became a staple of American life, and Gator Coin earned a reputation for dependable service, integrity, and lasting customer relationships.
As the decades passed, the business continued to grow alongside the amusement industry. Gator Coin expanded its offerings to include pool tables, pinball machines, video arcade games, and other coin-operated amusement equipment, always adapting to the changing interests of its customers. In later years, the company continued to evolve by adding ATM services and other modern conveniences, demonstrating the Bright family’s commitment to innovation while remaining true to its tradition of exceptional service.
Around the 1970s, Bud’s oldest son, Edwin Aaron Bright III, joined the business and helped lead its continued growth. Not long afterward, Bud’s oldest daughter, Kathey, also became part of the family operation, strengthening the tradition of multiple generations working side by side.
Today, that legacy continues with Bud’s grandson, Jonathan Fanning, who owns and operates Gator Coin. While the amusement industry has changed dramatically over the decades, the company’s commitment to quality service, innovation, and lasting relationships has remained constant.
As Gator Coin celebrates nearly eight decades in business, the Bright family also celebrates the generations of customers, employees, and family members who have made the journey possible. From penny gumball machines and classic jukeboxes to pool tables, pinball machines, arcade games, ATMs, and today’s modern amusement services, the story is one of perseverance, innovation, and family pride.
What began as one man’s vision has grown into a three-generation legacy—a testament to the enduring values of hard work, integrity, and service. For nearly 80 years, Gator Coin has built more than a business—it has built lasting relationships and a reputation for reliability throughout Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. As the company looks toward the future, the Bright family remains committed to carrying on the traditions established by Bud Bright while embracing the opportunities of tomorrow with the same dedication and integrity that have guided the business from the very beginning.
