Nostalgia is a powerful force in the world of gaming.

And that’s what prompted Pasadena-based Neon Retro Arcade to open a second location in Northridge. The new arcade at 8943 Reseda Blvd. will officially open its doors Jan. 26. Owners Mark Guenther and Mia Mazadiego figure their mix of classic video games and pinball machines — including Donkey Kong, Frogger, Mario Bros., Star Wars, Pac-Man and Centipede — will resonate with players there the same way they have in Pasadena.

A broad appeal

“I think the appeal is really a mixture of things,” Guenther said. “A lot of people just have those great memories of being a kid and going to the arcade, so this is a place where you can relive that. But an arcade is also a social environment. I currently play a lot of games, but you tend to play them by yourself. When you come here, you’ll meet new people, and many of these games can be played in groups.”

Mazadiego said Northridge was a logical choice for the company’s expansion.

“One of the primary reasons we chose Northridge is because we are residents of the San Fernando Valley,” she said. “But we’ve also had a lot of customers in Pasadena coming over from Northridge and the Valley.”

The 2,000-square-foot location is about the same size as the Pasadena arcade, and the mix of games will be similar. Both arcades feature about 50 games and pinball machines. The Northridge arcade will also charge the same price, $10 per hour or $25 for all day.

“Parents like the up-front admission, so they don’t have to keep replenishing a card or keep giving their kids more money,” Mazadiego said.

The Facebook connection

The husband-wife team have successfully captured scores of gaming customers, primarily through their outreach on social media. And it caught the attention of Facebook. In 2016, the Menlo Park-based social media company tapped them to serve on Facebook’s Small and Medium Business Council.

“It’s been a great relationship, and we continue to work with the council,” Mazadiego said. “We’ll be going back to Menlo Park soon to meet with them soon and do another day working with their team to get feedback. They have businesses from across the U.S. We’re really looking forward to that.”

The hunt for vintage games

So where, exactly, do they find all of those vintage games?

“You get them wherever you can,” Guenther said. “I get a lot of them through collectors. It’s a lot harder now to find them in random locations the way you could a few years ago. But we tell collectors we’re on the lookout for them, and you can also go to auctions. I even drove down to San Diego to get eight games.”

Some of the vintage machines are in need of some TLC.

“A lot of times, I’ll buy games that are working but might not look the best,” Guenther said. “I’ll fix them up so the buttons are the right color and replace the artwork. Other times, I’ll buy a game that’s not even working, … but it’s such a cool game!”

Growing popularity

Gene Lewin, who owns the Vintage Arcade Superstore in Glendale, said the popularity of classic video games has never been hotter. His warehouse and showroom are stocked with about 200 of them, priced from $800 to more than $8,000 for some the older pinball machines.

“I get calls from people all over the country,” he said. “A lot of bars and arcades are buying them up. Some of the games I get are in good condition, but for others we just sell off the parts. A lot of people are buying the games for their homes.”

Kudos from customers

Javier Cabral hasn’t gone that far. He’s a die-hard customer of Neon Retro Arcade in Pasadena.

“I go there at least once a month,” the 29-year-old Highland Park resident said. “My wife likes to shop around Pasadena, so I can be dropped off there and hang out for an hour or two. It’s mostly a release after a stressful week of work.”

Cecilia Clarizio, 39, of Pasadena is another Neon Retro fan.

“I’m super into pinball and I play in several leagues,” she said. “I love the fact that they have the old pinball and arcade games. I also have an 11-year-old who I bring along sometimes and I tell her, ‘This is what mommy played when I was your age.’ “