SAINT JOHN – Old-school video game lovers in Saint John are about to have their dreams come true.

Opening Saturday at 43 Princess Street in the city’s uptown, Eighty Three Bar Arcade will offer a space for adult gamers to drink and indulge in the classics.

Owner Mark Stevens got the idea for opening the arcade bar after seeing the success of his other two businesses Level-Up Laser Tag and Arcade Box. He noticed that while kids were having fun with the attractions, the grown-ups were having a blast too.

“What we found was that arcades certainly resonate with youth,” Stevens says. “However, we’ve seen the expressions and the joy on parents’ faces that have throughly enjoyed being at our parties and partaking in the retro gaming aspect.”

Bar arcades have been around for a while in the United States and bigger cities, but this will be the first one in New Brunswick. The name “Eighty Three” comes from the opinion that 1983 was the peak of the arcade … before the Atari shock messed everything up, of course. Stevens says they want to channel the nostalgia of that time. They want to recapture the days when you spent your Saturdays in an arcade or in front of a console, but in a modern, adult environment.

“We want mom and dad to come and enjoy a night out by themselves. So they can be kids themselves.”

Eighty Three will feature classic arcade games that were staples of the 1980’s and early 1990’s arcade scene.

“You’ve got the ‘heavy hitters’ we call them, like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Frogger, Space Invaders, Defender, these are all the top 80’s games. They are also the ones that are hardest to find as most people seek them out to collect them now.”

Steven says music will also be a very important aspect of the bar, so if you plan to catch a sports game there, you may be out of luck. The bar will be continuously streaming music videos from the 70’s, 80’s early 90’s (with some occasional Top 40.)

“Before MTV, Much Music and the video channels, you used to watch on Friday nights what we called the ‘Friday night videos.’ We have a slogan that it’s always ‘Friday night videos at Eighty Three.’ We will play videos continuously and I hate to say that there’s never going to be any sports on the screen, but that’s not our mandate.”

For a limited time, all game play will be free with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage or a bottomless fountain soda. Stevens says the bar will eventually charge an admission fee (likely around $8-$10) upon entry, which will include your first drink and unlimited play.

“We bring an entirely different attraction to the area. It’s unlike anything that’s been in New Brunswick and perhaps Atlantic Canada. It’s a new concept.”