Barcade
IndustryBar, restaurant, and classic arcade games
FoundedOctober 1, 2004 in Brooklyn, NY
Websitebarcade.com

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.

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] 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, Phladelphia in December 2023 in the ground floor of the ornate, Gothic-style Hale Building, designed by Willis G. Hale in 1887.[14]

Barcade registered its name as a federal trademark in 2007, and has successfully defended it in court,[15][16] while also becoming well known for aggressively pursuing any infringements on the mark.[17]

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. ↑ "A Look Inside the New Barcade Detroit, Open Now in Midtown". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Barcade Newark Closes After 5 Years". Patch. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Barcade to open second Philly location in Center City". Philly Voice. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Barcade Solicits New Name After Cease and Desist". Washington City Paper. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Tennent's Rebrands Campaign After US Firm Claims Trademark Infringement". PR Week.
  17. ↑ "Why You Can't Call It a Barcade". Eater. Retrieved March 14, 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

40°42′43.3″N 73°57′04″W / 40.712028°N 73.95111°W / 40.712028; -73.95111

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