Craft Beer and Donkey Kong, Coming Soon at Barcade


Apparently, the folks over at Grubstreet Philly have been reading the business pages, because they’re reporting (via Inc.) that the long-awaited Barcade (which we’ve been tracking for more than a year) is now looking at a September opening in Fishtown.

For those of you who’ve forgotten all about this concept (which seems to be expressly designed to turn me into a divorced, unemployed, Galaga-hustling alcoholic), Barcade is a combination craft beer bar and old-school video arcade with 30-odd 80’s vintage cabinet games and a liquor license–two things I love–soon to be housed in a former electrical warehouse on Frankford Avenue. Here’s what Inc. had to say about the forthcoming geek Nirvana:

Gamers at the new Philadelphia location will appreciate the collection of more than 30 titles, including Rampage, Tetris, Arkenoid, Gauntlet, Galaga, and a version of Asteroids that uses a mirror to create 3-D effect. At 25 cents a play, the games are certainly cheap—especially for would-be pros who can play for two hours on a single quarter.

The Barcade team already operates two other locations (one in Brooklyn, one in Jersey City), and are apparently looking at ways to grow the brand even further through franchising. But first, they have to get through the Philly opening which, according to Inc., should happen “in early September.”

Which is nice, because at least now I have a rough date for when my life is going to go completely to hell.

Building A Retro Nightlife Empire [Inc.]

Barcade [Grubstreet]