Barcade

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
IndustryBar, restaurant, and classic arcade games
FoundedOctober 1, 2004 in Brooklyn, NY
Websitebarcade.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] After a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Detroit location opened in August 2021.[12] The location in Newark, New Jersey was the first in the company's history to close. It closed in September, 2022.[13]

Barcade registered its name as a federal trademark in 2007, and has successfully defended it in court,[14][15] while also becoming well known for aggressively pursuing any infringements on the mark.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]

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 Solicits New Name After Cease and Desist". Washington City Paper. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  15. "Tennent's Rebrands Campaign After US Firm Claims Trademark Infringement". PR Week.
  16. "Why You Can't Call It a Barcade". Eater. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  17. "N.Y. surgeon sets world record at Donkey Kong - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  18. "The Kings of Q*bert" Archived March 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  19. "Joshua Lombay: Timber World Record Falls" Archived July 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

40°42′43.3″N 73°57′04″W

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