Barcade is a chain of arcade bars with locations in the northeastern United States, Los Angeles, and Detroit. First opened in Brooklyn on October 1, 2004, the venues feature a mix of classic video games and pinball and serve American craft beers.
 | |
 Barcade in Brooklyn | |
| Industry | Bar, restaurant, and classic arcade games |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 1, 2004 in Brooklyn, NY |
| Website | barcade |
History
editThe first Barcade opened in 2004[1] in a former metal shop at 388 Union Avenue in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, and features a combination of vintage arcade games and American craft beers.[2] The company is owned and operated by four long-time friends: brothers Kevin Beard and Scott Beard, Pete Langway and Paul Kermizian (director of American Beer).[3]
The combination of classic video games and craft beer proved successful, and the brand expanded into Jersey City, New Jersey,[4] and the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] Barcade later opened two locations in Manhattan, including a location in St. Mark's Place.[6] Over the next two years, locations opened in New Haven, Connecticut[7] and Newark, New Jersey.[8] In the summer of 2017 plans were announced for two new locations that would expand the company to Detroit, Michigan[9] and Los Angeles, California.[10] The Los Angeles location opened in May 2019.[11] After a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Detroit location opened in August 2021.[12] The location in Newark, New Jersey became the first in the company's history to close, when it shuttered in September, 2022.[13] The company opened a second Philadelphia location in Center City, Philadelphia in December 2023 in the ground floor of the ornate, Gothic-style Hale Building, designed by Willis G. Hale in 1887.[14]
In the summer of 2024, Barcade partnered with Rockefeller Center and ran a family friendly pop-up arcade in the ice rink's skate hut. The pop-up ran from June until the end of September.[15]
Barcade registered its name as a federal trademark in 2007, and has successfully defended it in court,[16][17] while also becoming well known for aggressively pursuing any infringements on the mark.[18]
Notable patrons
editA number of world record holders for classic games frequent the Brooklyn Barcade location, including Hank Chien, who set the world record in Donkey Kong with a score of 1,061,700 in March 2010.[19] George Leutz set the world record on Q*bert in February 2013 with a score of 37,163,080 after spending years practicing on the machine in Brooklyn's Barcade.[20] Joshua Lombay set the world record for the 1984 Midway game Timber in June 2013 with a score of 9,767,550 after having discovered the game and playing for the first time at Barcade in Brooklyn.[21]
In June 2021, the Barcade location on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan was the site of a rare public date between Rhianna and ASAP Rocky.[22] The bar received some unwanted attention for checking the couple's IDs before eventually allowing them entry.[23]
References
edit- ^ Simon Parkin. "Drink and Revive: The rise of Barcade". Polygon. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Dining Briefs".
- ^ "Best Bars in America 2008". Esquire. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "For Arcades, Survival Hinges on Alcohol". WSJ. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Building a Retro Nightlife Empire [Video] - Inc.com". Inc.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ Owen S. Good. "Nostalgic video game bar adding two more locations". Polygon. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Barcade Brings Retro Arcade Games, Craft Beer To New Haven".
- ^ "Barcade Planning to Open in Newark".
- ^ "'Up North'-Themed Restaurant and Barcade Drop Anchor on Selden Street".
- ^ "Barcade Is Opening in L.A., and Our Joystick Thumbs Are Trembling".
- ^ "'Barcade Opens in L.A." Replay Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- ^ "A Look Inside the New Barcade Detroit, Open Now in Midtown". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ "Barcade Newark Closes After 5 Years". Patch. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ "Barcade to open second Philly location in Center City". Philly Voice. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ "Summer at the Rink at Rockefeller Center Announces Additional Programming".
- ^ "Barcade Solicits New Name After Cease and Desist". Washington City Paper. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Tennent's Rebrands Campaign After US Firm Claims Trademark Infringement". PR Week.
- ^ "Why You Can't Call It a Barcade". Eater. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ "N.Y. surgeon sets world record at Donkey Kong - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "The Kings of Q*bert" Archived March 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Joshua Lombay: Timber World Record Falls" Archived July 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Rihanna Wore a Pink Thigh-High Leg Slit Dress for a Kissing-Filled Date Night With A$AP Rocky"
- ^ "Imagine Denying Rihanna Entry Anywhere"