Shauna Steigerwald

ssteigerwald@enquirer.com

When it opens early next year, 16-Bit Bar + Arcade will bring '80s and early '90s nostalgia to Over-the-Rhine's Mercer Commons.

"It's a throwback concept; when you step inside, you're really immersing yourself in the '80s and early '90s," said owner Troy Allen, who opened the first 16-Bit in Columbus in 2013 and expanded to Cleveland this August. "It's next to impossible not to smile about something."

The era vibe isn't created solely by the presence of classic arcade games such as Donkey Kong and NBA Jam, though the Cincinnati location will have about 45 of them, plus additional pinball machines. Cocktails take their names from icons (real and fictional) of the time: The Kevin Bacon has Jim Beam maple bourbon, ginger ale and bacon jerky; the Winnie Cooper uses berry vodka, peach schnapps, sour mix cranberry juice and Sprite. The bar also plays '80s and '90s music and TV shows and movies from the period. A giant mural wall will be comprised of thousands of images from the era used to create a larger image.

Allen stressed that 16-Bit, which should open at at 1331 Walnut St. during the first quarter of 2015, is "a bar first, arcade second." In addition to the cocktails, there will be at least 24 craft beer taps, including local offerings and beer from the other Ohio cities 16-Bit is in, plus canned beer. The bar also will have a large bourbon collection, probably about 60 varieties, he said.

There won't be food, but Allen said customers are welcome to bring in meals from Senate, Eagle and other nearby restaurants. In the other markets, 16-Bit also partners with food trucks to feed hungry patrons.

Allen said the space will have an upscale feel, with reclaimed wood floors and white oak tables. Garage doors will open onto Mercer and Walnut during nice weather.

At more than 4,000 square feet, the Cincinnati location will be the largest and should have space for about 200 people. At the Over-the-Rhine location, there will be a console bar, a wall with five TVs where customers can sit and play Atari 2600, Nintendo 64 and other systems, pulling cartridges from the bar's library.

Though 16-Bit appeals to 30- and 40-somethings who grew up during the '80s, Allen said it also draws a younger crowd, particularly programmers and developers who like the older games, which are free to play.

"You'll have that 40-something partner at a law firm playing against a 23-year-old developer," he said.

Hours will be 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and noon-2:30 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.

http://16-bitbar.com