× Expand Photo by George Mahe

Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Think this game will be popular?

Some said the place would never open. Others said it was a necessity, a catalyst, even a godsend. Regardless, the long-awaited Up-Down STL arcade bar has announced a grand opening date of June 14. The entertainment-based bar and restaurant is located at 405 N. Euclid, in the storied space that previously housed Herbie’s Vintage ’72 and Balaban’s.

General manager Joey Akers reports that the liquor license and occupancy permit (two reasons for delays) were secured yesterday, signaling a weeklong countdown to opening.

Up-Down has locations in Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee, and it's been named one of the The 10 Best Arcade Bars In America by Game Informer. The St. Louis outpost measures 8,000 square feet, with two levels and a high-walled back patio.

Photo by George Mahe

The first floor has been opened up to accommodate scores of pinball and arcade games, Skee-Ball, and such novelties as giant Jenga. Those who remember the prior interior's footprint—with a bistro/bar that fronted the street, a main bar, a more formal dining room, and a cigar room—likely won’t recognize the place. The building was in need of major repairs, inside and out, including the replacement of the signature copper roof.

Black-and-white graphic art spans a mix of arcade-game icons, pop-culture personalities, and references to St. Louis. Games are a quarter, 60 beers are on draft, and a small window sells pizza by the slice and a few sandwiches.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Up-Down features from 60 to 90 cabinet-style games. "We're still adding them," said Joey Akers two days prior to opening.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts All games are .25 apiece, but...Thursday is dime token night; on Friday, 20 free tokens are given to the first 100 guests; and on Saturdays, tokens are two-for-one until 9 p.m.

The coolest area, which may get overlooked by many guests, is the lower level, with additional games, another bar, and a more divey, grunge vibe. The rear patio, hidden from the street and partially flanked by sound absorbing walls, has its own bar and bright murals in its brick recesses. All areas have cocktail servers, for those times you just can't leave the game table!

× Expand Photo by George Mahe

Pete Rothschild, the building's owner, has long thought that a concept like Up-Down could help revitalize the block. He believes the addition of fresher, younger concepts in the neighborhood, such as Salt + Smoke (slated to open nearby later this summer), will not just increase awareness and traffic but inject more energy. "Places like Up-Down will be game changers for the neighborhood," Rothschild predicts. "They bring people, action, and fun...something the area hasn't experienced in quite a while."

× Expand Photo by George Mahe A parting thought

Scroll down for more images from SLM staff photographer Kevin A. Roberts.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Up-Down has six Skee-Ball games

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts ...and a dozen pinball games.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Popular console-style Nintendo games from the 80s are represented

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts ...as are plenty of multi-player, joystick games.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Up-Down has three bars: one up, one down, one on the back patio.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Sixty beers are on tap (find the limited releases downstairs) behind a full bar (with high end bottles on display), plus canned wines and batch wines.

× Expand Photography by Kevin A. Roberts Up-Down's food menu is limited, with a focus on pizzas made from scratch-made dough, sold both whole