NYC’s original arcade bar isn’t vanishing tomorrow—but Williamsburg’s Barcade now has a high-score countdown to its final game. The pioneering beer-and-retro-gaming hangout announced that its lease will expire in fewer than 1,000 days, after which the original location will permanently close.
The news surfaced through the bar’s Instagram account and was reported by Time Out New York. That gives regulars nearly three years to squeeze in another round of Donkey Kong, Galaga, Street Fighter II—or whatever game has been quietly eating their quarters since 2004.
A 2004 Williamsburg Experiment Became A National Bar Trend
Barcade opened on October 14, 2004, in a former metal shop, when Williamsburg still had more industrial grit than glassy development. The business was founded by friends Paul Kermizian, Pete Langway, Kevin Beard and Scott Beard, who combined American craft beer with classic arcade cabinets. The company’s own history says the concept grew from nights spent drinking and playing vintage games in Kermizian’s Williamsburg loft.
The original outpost helped turn the arcade bar from a niche neighborhood idea into a recognizable nightlife format. According to Barcade’s official history, the brand later adopted the tagline “The Original Arcade Bar” as similar venues spread around the country.
The Williamsburg Location Is Closing, But Barcade Is Not Disappearing
The company still lists Barcade locations in Manhattan, including Chelsea, the Financial District and St. Mark’s Place, along with outposts in other cities. Its Brooklyn location page continues to advertise the Union Avenue bar’s games, beer selection and regular hours while the countdown continues.
The Williamsburg original also earned plenty of bragging rights before the closing notice arrived. Esquire included Barcade on its 2008 list of the best bars in America, while Time Out noted that Foursquare named it New York City’s best bar in 2013.
For now, the bar remains open and the final night is still well in the future. But the announcement changes the mood slightly: every game of Ms. Pac-Man and every craft beer at the original Barcade now comes with a deadline.
