TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — It’s a bar…it’s an arcade…and it’s coming to downtown Terre Haute.
Bar_Botics Arcade, located at 671 Wabash Avenue, will hold its grand opening next Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15 and 16.
According to co-owner Ethan Page, the idea for the unique retro arcade bar came from talking to the community.
“We kind of did a survey of the town, and really tried to see where there was a hole in the market and kind of what people were wanting,” he said. “The constant feedback that we got back was entertainment.”
For a $5 cover charge, bar-goers can play a wide assortment of games from the 80s and 90s including classics such as PacMan, Ms. PacMan, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat II.
“[Community members] want a place for consistent entertainment for them to come hang out, do something different, etc.,” Page said. “That’s what we’re trying to bring to the place, something very different, something really fun.”
Page said in addition to the entertainment aspect, the bar’s unique alcoholic drinks also set them apart. Non-alcoholic drinks will also be available.
Opening during a pandemic might not be ideal; however, Page said it put them at an advantage to be prepared for safety protocols from day one.
“Kind of the advantage that we have gotten to do here is we’ve gotten to think about that from the very start, so in the planning phase, in our design output, we’ve taken that into consideration,” he noted. “
All seating is six feet apart and the bar is stocked up on hand sanitizer and wipes for the games.
Bar_Botics will be open from 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Sunday. Visit the bar’s website for more information.