Is there a classic/retro arcade within 20-30 minutes drive for you, and have you been?

Is there a classic/retro arcade within 20-30 minutes drive for you, and have you been?


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I built one on my acreage Short Circuit Arcade. Then opened a commercial arcade Arkadium Retro Arcade 20 minutes from my house. So yes I own 2 awesome arcades I visit frequently.
 
I live in one of the top-3 fastest-growing cities in the US: New Braunfels, TX. Its between two major cities (25 miles north of San Antonio and 45 Miles south of Austin). San Antonio has ZERO classic arcades. Austin has three which fit the OP's criteria. Two (Pinballz locations) do not focus on vids, nor do they maintain their vids well and will sell them off of the floor.

Bishop Cidercade is the only true classic video arcade (IMO) within 3 hours (Houston) to 5 hours (DFW) from New Braunfels. I'm 47 miles (1 hr drive) from Cidercade and have gone there every other month since it opened last fall.

Do you know if the arcade on the main square in Lockhart is still open? I've never been in town when it was open for business, just peered in the windows.
 
I have one in DeKalb which is close.

Another in Rockford which I haven't been to, but it looks like a lot of redemption.

Then I have Galloping Ghost which is further away, and the Joliet Pinball place which is about the same distance.
 
Both Leeds and Bradford branches of arcade club are around 1hrs drive from me (https://www.arcadeclub.co.uk/), I've been to both
Arcade Hub in Hull is about 1:45hrs away, haven't been yet but will do soon. (https://www.visithull.org/to-do/arcade-hub-hull/)
I hear there's a retro arcade opening in Bradford which is about 20 to 30 minutes away - so I should make the effort to visit that once it's open.

As a bonus a few years ago I was staying in Santa Monica for the E3 trade show in LA (an apartment in SM + a hire car was cheaper than a hotel in LA that week) I remember finding a retro arcade on one of the piers in SM. No idea if it's still there or not though, this was about 17 years ago!
 
No fair ! If you live in a congested city sometimes 20-30min is traveling 3 blocks ! lol Also, the term "retro" is kinda loaded, because, I would say no then because the ones near me are some blasphemy version of a old cool arcade. And have newer type looks and flashing BS lights everywhere and serving alcohol, bs rules about drugs, etc.. Retro means 80s, and 80's means doing coke in the bathroom ! Everyone knows, you gotta build a bathroom thats good for doing coke in, or your establishment aint worth sh*t ! (if this is true 80's!) HAHAHAHA

Ok, jokes aside, lol I do have 2 arcades I recently discovered here (1 thanks to a fellow Klov'er), but I feel not one qualifies as true "retro" arcade, so no. San Francisco strikes out :-( The rent is simply too high here and even in surrounding areas now to accommodate a normal non-dumbass arcade and still make enough to survive.
The best arcade I know is in my basement. Truck remains in the driveway. Repairs while you wait. Got liquor too. :)
This makes the most sense to me..... But what's your bathroom look like ? Is it worthy ? hahahahahahah 😜
 
Just for laughs and to back my 80's statement - this is CLASSIC 80's here. Great song, sampled a dozen times, made several hits from several artists. So this is not knocking the song. But can you read between the *lines* here ?? I have some inside info, and I am NOT joking, watch the video, and watch his mouth closely, proven fact he is NOT chewing gum. There is a whole story to this video, and it's hilarious. They had lots of fun that day, as usual. It was verified by the lady in the video and the video shooter, Dennis was NOT chewing gum, I repeat, not chewing gum. You can guess what he was on, it was the 80's BABY !!

Bonus to anyone that can name a few of the popular rap songs that sampled that bass line. EPIC bass line there.
 
I've been to:
  • Galloping Ghost Arcade in Chicago 6x.
  • Logan Hardware in Chicago 2x.
  • The 1UP Arcade Bar in Denver.
  • Barcade NYC in Brooklyn.
  • Arcade Legacy in Cincinnati.
  • Cobra Arcade Bar in Phoenix.
And in my hometown of Indianapolis: Tappers and Boss Battle multiple times, too many times to count.

Last trip to GGA was last Saturday with 6 best buddies and fellow members of the Hoosier Arcade and Coin-Op Kollectors Society.

zwackery.jpg


If you love arcade games, this is the way.
 
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I've been to:

  • The 1UP Arcade Bar in Denver.

Oh, I've also been there! In my last day in Denver I spent 4 hours or so there waiting for my flight. Sadly that arcade is trash, the buttons on all the Street Fighter cabs are filled with spilled beer, the joystick on 1942 is just about done for, Galaga is missing sounds, many many CRTs have burn-in or need some major work, and the pinball machines all felt a little "cheat"-y to me.

Back home where I am, there's an amazing retro arcade where all the machines are kept in great shape. The 1942 cabinet is flawless and I've played it many times, Galaga is perfect and clean, even the OutRun with the battery that kills the sound IC has been repaired. At one point the sound was ruined, but I went back a month or so later and it was back to perfectly working.
 
Three years ago, when I still lived in the Midwest, I went to the following--multiple times in the same year:

Zanzabar - Louisville
Recbar - Louisville
Fun Spot
Logan's Hardware - Chicago
Galloping Ghosts
Draftcade - K.C.
Up-Down KC - K.C.
Tapcade - K.C.
Beercade - Omaha

Two years ago, moved to Texas--apparently the capitol of the Arcade Prohibition/Arcade Isolationism movement. Have since been to:
Freeplay Fort Worth - DFW
Pinballz Lake Creek - Austin (not cared for - family fun center environment)
Bishop Cidercade - Austin
 
Flynns retrocade. There used to be a nickelcade half the time/distance over 10 years ago, cover charge + of course everything set up on nickels. Next closest is one called quarters arcade in slc, but haven't been. I guess if/when they open the new flynns in slc / area they might close the closer one down, so it would nearly double the distance, 50-60 mins instead of 25 or so
 
I have been to:

Quarter Arcade Salt Lake City
Up / Down Minneapolis
Tilt Pinball Bar Minneapolis
Press Start Rapid City South Dakota
Coin Op San Francisco & Sacramento
And probley a couple of others I can't remember

Andrew
 
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