Barcade
{{Short description|American company}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Barcade
| logo = Barcade®logo.png
| image = Brooklyn location of Barcade.jpeg
| image_caption = Barcade in Brooklyn
| key_people =
| industry = Bar, restaurant, and classic arcade games
| website = {{URL|https://barcade.com/}}
| foundation = October 1, 2004 in Brooklyn, NY
| location =
}}
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{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/26/3992898/the-rise-of-barcade|title=Drink and Revive: The rise of Barcade|author=Simon Parkin|work=Polygon|accessdate=February 12, 2016}} 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.{{Cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/dining/25dbrie.html?ref=dining | title=Dining Briefs}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/bars/a4474/best-bars-list-0608/|title=Best Bars in America 2008|work=Esquire|accessdate=February 12, 2016}}
The combination of classic video games and craft beer proved successful, and the brand expanded into Jersey City, New Jersey,{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/04/22/for-arcades-survival-now-hinges-on-alcohol/|title=For Arcades, Survival Hinges on Alcohol|work=WSJ|accessdate=February 12, 2016}} and the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/articles/201108/building-a-retro-nightlife-empire.html|title=Building a Retro Nightlife Empire [Video] - Inc.com|work=Inc.com|accessdate=February 12, 2016}} Barcade later opened two locations in Manhattan, including a location in St. Mark's Place.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/25/5750130/barcade-locations-new-york-manhattan|title=Nostalgic video game bar adding two more locations|author=Owen S. Good|work=Polygon|accessdate=February 12, 2016}} Over the next two years, locations opened in New Haven, Connecticut{{cite web|url=http://www.ctnow.com/food-drink/ctnow-barcade-brings-retro-arcade-games-craft-beer-to-new-haven-20160430-story.html|title=Barcade Brings Retro Arcade Games, Craft Beer To New Haven}} and Newark, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.placenj.com/2016/11/barcade-planning-to-open-in-newark.html|title=Barcade Planning to Open in Newark}} In the summer of 2017 plans were announced for two new locations that would expand the company to Detroit, Michigan{{cite web|url=https://detroit.eater.com/2017/8/30/16227230/barcade-north-cookshop-new-detroit-restaurants-midtown|title=‘Up North’-Themed Restaurant and Barcade Drop Anchor on Selden Street}} and Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.lamag.com/digestblog/barcade/|title=Barcade Is Opening in L.A., and Our Joystick Thumbs Are Trembling}} The Los Angeles location opened in May 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.replaymag.com/barcade-opens-in-l-a/|title='Barcade Opens in L.A.|work=Replay Magazine|accessdate=May 6, 2019}} After a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Detroit location opened in August 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/08/23/look-inside-new-barcade-detroit-open-now-midtown/8239774002/|title=A Look Inside the New Barcade Detroit, Open Now in Midtown|work=The Detroit News|accessdate=August 23, 2021}} The location in Newark, New Jersey became the first in the company's history to close, when it shuttered in September, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/newarknj/barcade-newark-closes-after-5-years-jersey-city-spot-still-open|title=Barcade Newark Closes After 5 Years|work=Patch|accessdate=September 13, 2022}} The company opened a second Philadelphia location in Center City, Philadelphia in December 2023 in the ground floor of the ornate, Gothic-style Hale Building, designed by Willis G. Hale in 1887.{{cite web|url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/barcade-center-city-opening-retro-arcade-games-craft-beer-bar/|title=Barcade to open second Philly location in Center City|work=Philly Voice|accessdate=December 26, 2023}}
In the summer of 2024, Barcade partnered with Rockefeller Center and ran a family friendly pop-up arcade in the ice rink's skate hut. The pop-up ran from June until the end of September.{{cite web|url=https://www.einpresswire.com/article-print/724856949/summer-at-the-rink-at-rockefeller-center-announces-additional-programming|title=Summer at the Rink at Rockefeller Center Announces Additional Programming}}
Barcade registered its name as a federal trademark in 2007, and has successfully defended it in court,{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2012/07/06/barcade-solicits-new-name-after-cease-and-desist/|title=Barcade Solicits New Name After Cease and Desist|work=Washington City Paper|accessdate=February 12, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1402045/tennents-rebrands-campaign-us-firm-claims-trademark-infringement|title=Tennent's Rebrands Campaign After US Firm Claims Trademark Infringement|work=PR Week}} while also becoming well known for aggressively pursuing any infringements on the mark.{{cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2019/3/14/18262368/barcade-arcade-bars-lawsuits-trademark-infringement}|title=Why You Can’t Call It a Barcade|work=Eater|accessdate=March 14, 2019}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?id=5040509|title=N.Y. surgeon sets world record at Donkey Kong - ESPN|work=ESPN.com|access-date=February 12, 2016}} 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.[http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9053237/q*bert-video-game-marathoning-trend-aftermath-king-kong "The Kings of Q*bert"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321004801/http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9053237/q%2Abert-video-game-marathoning-trend-aftermath-king-kong |date=March 21, 2013 }} 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.[http://www.twingalaxies.com/article/2394/joshua-lombay-timber-world-record-falls/ "Joshua Lombay: Timber World Record Falls"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704085715/http://www.twingalaxies.com/article/2394/joshua-lombay-timber-world-record-falls/ |date=July 4, 2013 }}
In June 2021, the Barcade location on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan was the site of a rare public date between Rihanna and ASAP Rocky.[https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a36827230/rihanna-asap-rocky-nyc-barcade-kissing-photos/ "Rihanna Wore a Pink Thigh-High Leg Slit Dress for a Kissing-Filled Date Night With A$AP Rocky"] The bar received some unwanted attention for checking the couple's IDs before eventually allowing them entry.[https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a36830786/rihanna-asap-rocky-denied-entry-into-nyc-bar/ "Imagine Denying Rihanna Entry Anywhere"]
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://barcade.com/}}
- [https://twitter.com/barcade Barcade official Twitter page]
- [https://barcade.tumblr.com// Barcade official Tumblr page]
{{coord|40|42|43.3|N|73|57|04|W |display=title}}