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A new bar offering local beer, craft cocktails, and rotating selection of vintage arcade games is now open in Houston’s Greater East End.
Eightytwo opened quietly at 1201 Saint Emanuel Street, Suite 110, late last year. The bar, which spans two floors and includes an indoor skylit atrium, joins a handful of other gaming bars nearby, including longstanding hangout Eighteen Twenty Lounge, just north of Minute Maid Park; comic book-themed spot Neil’s Bahr on Walker; and the recently-opened Bishop Cidercade on Canal Street.
What sets Eightytwo apart is that the games are rotated out on a regular basis, making for a new experience with every visit. About 45 vintage arcade games, and 15 pinball machines, are available for play at any given time, chosen from a selection of about 150 games.
As a bar, Eightytwo offer 10 taps worth of craft beer and a menu of signature cocktails including the Princess Peach, with vodka and peach puree, and the Wizard Mode, with rye, cold brew coffee and vanilla black tea. There’s no food on the menu, but Eightytwo shares a building with Vinny’s Pizza and is a few doors down from Rodeo Goat, for some pre- or -post-gaming eats. Happy hour at the bar lasts until 10 p.m. every night.
Founders Scott Davids and Noah Sutcliffe, who have been friends since childhood, first opened Eightytwo in Los Angeles in 2014. They chose Houston for their second location because of the city’s bustling hospitality scene, according to a press release.
Davids and Sutcliffe are passionate about preserving arcade and pinball culture, and the play prices at Eightytwo reflect that, with arcades going for a quarter a game and pinball going for 50 cents a play. There is no charge for entry. All the games are serviced and restored on site.
Eightytwo also plans to host arcade and pinball tournaments, which will be streamed live on Twitch.
Eightytwo is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
