Downtown Phoenix is about to get a lot more fun! The much-anticipated Cobra Arcade Bar is officially opening on Friday night after years in the making.
It's the first vintage 80's-themed arcade bar to open in Phoenix and will feature a total of 40 games inside the 3,300 square foot building. Plus, there's another 40 in storage that will rotate in and out of the bar.
The bar's brain-child was Ariel Bracamonte who partnered with Genuine Concepts to make the arcade bar a reality. Logan Purser, director of operations for Genuine Concepts, said Bracamonte had always wanted to open a bar and Genuine Concepts wanted to open an arcade, so the two joined forces and created Cobra.
"It's a sensory overload," Purser said. "A lot of well-manicured games, some incredible artwork, a lot of wonderful street art on the walls, on the games themselves and then a full service bar with handcrafted cocktails, 14 draft handles, 30 beers and a bumpin' sound system."
The bar has had three soft openings so far and Purser said their feedback has been great.
"There's been so much buzz," he said. "We've been really well-received in the neighborhood and it's a great neighborhood to be a part of. There's a lot of great bars and restaurants right off of Roosevelt Row."
Cobra Arcade Bar sits next to Film Bar on Second and McKinley streets and joins the numerous restaurants and bars that fill the Roosevelt Arts District and the surrounding area.
The bar officially opens on Friday at 4 p.m. and will feature classic games like Pac-Man and other games like Star Wars, Simpsons and more.
"There's something about an arcade game that has a genuine feel to it and it brings people together as apposed to sitting on your couch and playing a video game, which can be fun, but here it's social and you can drink while you do it," Purser said.
So grab a roll of quarters and get ready for the nostalgia.
