Joystick Gamebar, the self-described "weird little nerd bar" on Edgewood Avenue, is powering down its Edgewood location on Sunday, July 12, closing out a 14-year run in northeast Atlanta. The owners say this is not a full game over, though, and that Joystick will reboot at a new, still-undisclosed spot.
As reported by WSB‑TV, the team shared the news in an Instagram post confirming the last day of service. One owner wrote, "Personally, I love this street. It has an energy that’s hard to find anywhere else in Atlanta," and the announcement said they plan to reopen "soon" at a new address, without offering a timeline.
Perched at 427 Edgewood Ave SE, Joystick has been a late-night staple for classic arcade cabinets, pinball machines and cheap plays that let a few dollars stretch well into the night. The Infatuation and local bar guides highlight its regular tournaments, theme nights and a crowd that shows up as much for the nostalgia as for the drinks.
Edgewood’s Changing Nightlife
In recent years, the Edgewood corridor has been at the center of city efforts to rein in violence and tighten nightlife safety rules, including calls for more cameras, clearer signage and a temporary moratorium on new liquor licenses. Axios noted that Joystick co-owner Johnny Martinez served on the city task force that examined the area and that he backed most of its recommendations, a sign of how closely the bar and its operators have been tied to arguments over Edgewood’s future.
Owners’ Local Footprint And What Comes Next
The Joystick team, which includes Martinez and Brendan Ley, has long had a larger footprint on Edgewood, running multiple concepts on the block and shifting how those spaces are used over time. Eater Atlanta reported that their Georgia Beer Garden closed in 2023 as the owners retooled their approach to the street.
For now, the Joystick crew has not released details about a new address or an opening date, leaving regulars to watch their feeds and hope the next location lands within easy Uber distance.
The shutdown leaves one of Edgewood’s most easygoing late-night hangouts in limbo and gives fans a short window to fill the bar, drop a few more quarters into the machines and raise a last round before July 12. The owners say they aim to bring Joystick’s arcade energy back to Atlanta "soon"; until that happens, Edgewood will be missing a 14-year fixture from its nightly lineup.
