Authored By chloe.morrison

After working with the Chattanooga Film Festival and the Mise En Scenesters, local native and entrepreneur Brian Hennen felt more motivated than ever to act on a business idea that had been percolating for some time.

“The film festival’s success really bolstered some sort of confidence in me,” he said. “It instilled this proactive, get-it-done mindset.”

More information Initially, The Coin-Op Arcade will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, click here.

So he set his sights on a location on Martin Luther King Boulevard, near JJ’s Bohemia and The Bitter Alibi, and he just “started hassling” the landlords.

He had nearly given up on that space when he got the call to have lunch with the owners. After a lunch meeting, he signed a lease. On Aug. 29, he will open The Coin-Op Arcade.

Hennen is bootstrapping the venture so the burden is on him, he said. That’s both terrifying and freeing, he said.

The business, located at 233 E. Martin Luther King Blvd., will have a selection of vintage, new and indie arcade games. Think Ms. Pac-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and pinball machines.

The 700-square-foot venue is nonsmoking and aimed at both families with children and others, such as young professionals and members of the tech/software development community.

There will be beer and food, and the space can be rented out for birthday parties and other events.

His musician friend Alex Volz will be at the venue sometimes. He does smart children’s songs that adults can enjoy, too, Hennen said.

“I want him to be a mainstay on the weekends,” he said, adding that it might be a “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” vibe at times.

The business’ location is strategic and nostalgic for Hennen. Growing up, he spent a good amount of time downtown in the area of old music venue Yesterday’s.

Now, the MLK area is undergoing a transformation and poised for more growth, and his business fits in well with what’s happening there, he said.

“The history, the culture-it lends itself toward this eccentric, creative mindset,” he said. “There’s no other place I would want to be. It’s just a natural fit.”