Like most kids of the 80's, Paul Kermizan, Pete Langway, and brothers Kevin and Scott Beard loved to play video games. In adulthood, that passion continued. Paul began collecting old arcade cabinets and invited friends over for parties. The friends all worked in different industries - Pete was in advertising, Kevin and Scott were graphic designers, and Paul was a film and television director. In fact, Paul directed a documentary film called American Beer. As "research," Paul would have friends over to his Williamsburg apartment to drink craft beer - and since they were there - play old video games.
So opening a bar where people could drink craft beer and play old video games was the next natural step. Since the friends lived in Williamsburg and the neighborhood was still a bit desolate in 2004, they decided to find a location in the now gentrified neighborhood. They found a large and cheap space in a former metal shop and have now gone on to open two more locations in Manhattan and four more in the Tri-State area (Newark, Jersey City, Philadelphia, and New Haven).
The What:
Barcade may have the greatest concept ever. At all the bars, they pair old school arcade games with craft beer. The games which vary a bit from location to location still cost the original price (mostly 25 cents) and the beers are all American craft beers. In Williamsburg, at the original location, the games are as retro as they get, dating from the 70's and 80's. Expect to see Frogger, Dig Dug, and our personal favorite Tapper (even though it was co-produced by Budweiser). The Chelsea location focuses on fighting games (think Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat) and the East Village Barcade fast forwards a bit to the 90's so the games are a bit more technologically advanced (just a bit) and include titles like Moonwalker and Terminator 2.
Across all locations, the beer is always unique and surprising. Barcade has a close relationship with many American craft brewers with a stronge emphasis on local. Here's where you can find plenty of Sixpoint's Mad Scientist series (only available on tap in NYC), special collaborations, and the newest local breweries like Interboro featured on their ever-changing list.
The Why:
This is the perfect place to taste a wide selection of beer and find the style that best suits you. This is exactly why we start our Fermented Williamsburg Craft Beer Crawl at Barcade Brooklyn. If you think you don't like beer, we guarantee that it's just because you have not tasted the style you like yet. And odds are it is on Barcade's beer menu. And if it's not, well then you can always drown your troubles in a video game instead. And it will only cost you a quarter.
We also just think it's great to feel like a game-playing kid again in a lively nostalgic atmosphere and unlike when we were 12 years old, we are now legally allowed to have a beer in our hand. And it's a much better beer than we ever had access to back in the day.
The Where:
Barcade has 3 locations in NYC:
388 Union Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York 11211
(718) 302-6464
148 West 24th Street,
New York, New York 10011
(212) 390-8455
6 Saint Marks Place,
New york, New York 10003
(212) 388-0522