BRIDGEWATER — Richie Knucklez, world high-score record-holder on the classic video arcade game Space Invaders and subject of the upcoming indie film "The King of Arcades," is bringing authentic video arcade action to Somerset County.

Knucklez, nee Vavrence, has been the lead singer and creative force behind the Flemington-based hardcore rock band Knuckle Sandwich for years, hence the Knucklez moniker. But for the last seven years or so he has immersed himself in the world of classic video arcade games.

He taught himself how to repair old game machines and bring them back to life, fixing the electronics to make them work like new again, but also cleaning up and repainting the cabinets so no one could tell them apart from out of the box machines.

Knucklez opened a storefront on Route 12 in Flemington where he not only showcased and sold the refurbished machines, but on weekends he opened the doors to the public as a old school video arcade with one difference — quarters not necessary. All the machines are set to free play, and gamers could play all night for a flat ten bucks admission.

Knucklez is now opening his first Somerset County location, at 1321 Prince Rodgers Ave. in Bridgewater, just minutes from Bridgewater Commons and the surrounding highways.

"The location was formerly a Curves women's exercise location I purchased about six years ago," Anthony Cace, co-owner with Knucklez and Daniel Orrico of both locations, said. But due to dwindling attendance he decided it was time to close the exercise business.

"I already knew Richie, I told him I had 1,000 square feet, you have the machines, and Richie said, let's go for it," Cace said.

Cace said they are billing themselves as a classic video arcade showroom with sales and service. But like Flemington, they will also have open play from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays for $10 a person.

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"Over the last four months we're been building and filling up the arcade," Cace said. He said that Larry Russo will be general manager of the Bridgewater shop.

"Part of what took so long was that we needed duplicates of the staple games — Space Invaders, Pac man, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Asteroids," Knucklez said. "We had them in the Flemington store, but now we needed them again for Bridgewater."

Cace said that they plan a 'soft' opening this weekend, but there will be a grand opening bash once everything is in top running order.

Knucklez said that the grand opening will be a world record contest for Fix-It Felix Jr., the video game created specially for last year's "Wreck-It Ralph" animated film.

"We'll have the top three score holders being flown in, including the record holder, Daniel Desjardins," Knucklez said.

Also expected to attend are Steve Wiebe, two-time world champion of Donkey Kong, George Lutz, world record holder on Q*Bert, and more gaming legends.

Knucklez Flemington shop has been featured in theatrical movie releases about gaming including "The King of Kong," telling the story of the triumph of upstart Steve Wiebe battling then-Donkey Kong world record holder Billy Mitchell.

Knucklez is also the star of an upcoming indie film called "The King of Arcades" telling his own story, but delving back into video and computer game history with Knucklez interviewing the creators of the first, and most popular video games in history, including Eugene Jarvis, creator of Robotron and Defender, and Jersey Jack, who created the "Wizard of Oz" pinball game, which Knucklez said is the "most amazing pinball game on the face of the earth."

"We're going to have the brand new Stern Metallica pinball game," Knucklez said. "And Jersey Jack said we'll have a "Wizard of Oz" game in time for the grand opening."

For more information visit the Richie Knucklez website, the King of Arcades website or the King of Arcades Facebook page.