Barcade

Barcade is a chain of arcade bars with locations in the northeastern United States, Los Angeles, and Detroit. First opened in Brooklyn in 2004, the venues feature a mix of classic video games and pinball and serve American craft beers.

Barcade
IndustryBar, restaurant, and classic arcade games
Founded2004 in Brooklyn, NY
Websitewww.barcade.com

History

The 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]

Barcade registered its name as a federal trademark in 2007, and has successfully defended it in court,[12][13] while also becoming well known for aggressively pursuing any infringements on the mark.[14]

Arcade bars have spread throughout the United States in recent years and the original Barcade is credited as one of the originators of the concept.[15][16][17]

Awards
  • In 2008, Barcade was named one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine.[3]

Notable patrons
  • A 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.[18]
  • 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.[19]
  • 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.[20]

References
  1. Simon Parkin. "Drink and Revive: The rise of Barcade". Polygon. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  2. "Dining Briefs".
  3. "Best Bars in America 2008". Esquire. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  4. "For Arcades, Survival Hinges on Alcohol". WSJ. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  5. "Building a Retro Nightlife Empire [Video] - Inc.com". Inc.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  6. Owen S. Good. "Nostalgic video game bar adding two more locations". Polygon. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  7. "Barcade Brings Retro Arcade Games, Craft Beer To New Haven".
  8. "Barcade Planning to Open in Newark".
  9. "'Up North'-Themed Restaurant and Barcade Drop Anchor on Selden Street".
  10. "Barcade Is Opening in L.A., and Our Joystick Thumbs Are Trembling".
  11. "'Barcade Opens in L.A." Replay Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  12. "Barcade Solicits New Name After Cease and Desist". Washington City Paper. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  13. "Tennent's Rebrands Campaign After US Firm Claims Trademark Infringement". PR Week.
  14. "Why You Can't Call It a Barcade". Eater. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  15. "How Arcades Have Evolved to Survive". Medium. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  16. "How Arcade Bars Became Boozy Playgrounds for Adults". Eater. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  17. "Why do so many bars have pinball and video games? Because people want more than just drinks". Washington Post. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  18. "N.Y. surgeon sets world record at Donkey Kong - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  19. "The Kings of Q*bert" Archived March 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  20. "Joshua Lombay: Timber World Record Falls" Archived July 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

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