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Every weekend for the past eight years, Ahmad Bahay and Mohammed Chybli would gather in a basement playing hours upon hours of retro Nintendo video games.

Realizing they weren’t alone in their love of a video game company and its games, which revolutionized the way gamers played, the pair have embarked on a project to open a cafe dedicated to the Japanese company.

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“One day we were just chatting and we said, ‘why don’t we bring our basement to the storefront and inspire others to get together?’ ” said Bahay.

“We’re starting with Nintendo-themed first and foremost, because Nintendo is the reason why video games are as big as they are today. Starting back in the ’80s, Nintendo shaped the way of gaming.

“It has a lasting effect on you.”

The cafe, which Bahay said will be located at 1240 16th Ave. N.W. across from SAIT, will feature walls covered in Nintendo consoles, memorabilia and televisions as big as 70 inches.