Skeeball at the new Up-Down Arcade Bar in Parkside. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been eagerly awaiting the grand opening of Alabama’s first Up-Down Arcade Bar. Good news—the wait is almost over.

Starting this Friday, April 4 at 6PM, guests, gamers and craft beer enthusiasts can enjoy more than 60 classic arcade games, 40+ beers on tap and more at the new Up-Down Arcade Bar in Birmingham’s Parkside district.

Up-Down Arcade Bar bringing nostalgic video games to Birmingham

In 2012, longtime friends Josh Ivey, Rafe Mateer and Sam Summers opened the first Up-Down Arcade Bar in Des Moines, Iowa. Since then, the brand has expanded to seven locations across the country—each packed with a variety of classic arcade games, pinball machines, skeeball alleys and more.

Now, the brand is gearing up to open its newest location in the Magic City.

“From our first visit, we knew Birmingham’s Parkside District was the perfect fit for Up-Down. We’re excited to bring our love for classic games, craft beer and community together in this dynamic and emerging neighborhood.”
Josh Ivey, Managing Partner, Up-Down Arcade Bar

Every Up-Down location sports an inviting menu of cocktails and local craft beers, as well as pizza by the slice made to order using in-house dough and quality toppings.

However, the most important components of any Up-Down Arcade Bar are the games themselves. Every game is the real deal—no emulations played on flatscreen TVs. Up-Down’s Iowa warehouses contain anywhere from 400-600 vintage arcade games at any given time; once repaired, these arcade games will circulate through different Up-Down locations across the country.

What you need to know about Up-Down Arcade Bar

Alabama’s first Up-Down Arcade Bar officially opens its doors on Friday, April 4 at 6PM—and the first 100 guests will receive 20 FREE game tokens. The tokens can be used at Up-Down’s 60+ classic arcade games, including 12 pinball tables, five lanes of retro 13′ skeeball and three lanes of Hoop Fever. All games (except pinball) take just one token to play.

In addition to retro arcade games, Up-Down will include a new two-story container bar that anchors an expansive outdoor greenspace. The outdoor bar component will include: