Kalamazoo local opens a bar downtown with food and gaming, too

When it comes to gaming something is always changing and the latest trend has made it to downtown Kalamazoo. They call it a "barcade."

The video game revolution takes us back to the 1950s. To the early times of 3D tic-tac-toe and Moon Landing. The early '70s brought us arcade games and gaming consoles with joysticks, buttons, and computer graphics. Games like  Spacewar, Pong, and later Atari 2600 would be the first among many games to be played at home. The early 1980s brought the surge of convenient, home gaming that ended the golden age of traditional arcade games circa 1983. After which came in the late '80s and early '90s gaming computers and handheld LCD devices were released, claiming the second generation of video gaming. 

Now, in the 21st century, we have seen the most rapid advancements in the development of video gaming than ever before. According to a US Video Gaming Industry press release, the video gaming industry recorded hardware and software revenue of $36 billion in 2017, an 18 percent increase since 2016. Companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are now developing more tools and technology for the future of gaming: Interactive and Virtual Reality gaming experiences. 

So where does that leave the generations of gamers who prefer “old school” gaming consoles over the new generation games? Recently, video arcade cabinets have been making a comeback with a new twist. A new niche market has formed. Arcade bars, also known as “barcades” or “beercades”, provide an environment full of gaming nostalgia. 

Both classic gaming consoles and coin-operated arcade games are available for patrons to play while enjoying a specialty cocktail or craft beer. In 2004 Barcade, a chain of arcade bars, opened its first location in Brooklyn, New York. Since then many arcade bars have opened across the United States.  

Game enthusiast and Kalamazoo local, Amy Spalsbury opened the doors to LFG ( Liquor-Food-Gaming) Gaming Bar in Kalamazoo on Nov. 16, 2018.  Located at 116 Portage Street on the corner of Portage Road and West Michigan Avenue. The arcade bar now occupies the space that housed Mexican restaurant, Casa Bolero, which closed last winter after 8 years of business.

Upon entering, patrons are greeted with pleasant and mysterious smells of from the menu. Spotify’s “Gaming Lounge” playlist fills each room with upbeat electronic tones such as New Atlantis by Halc. Customers seat themselves and when ready, place food and drink orders at the beginning of the bar. At LFG all gaming consoles are free to play and all food and drink purchases include tokens for the coin-operated arcade machines.

Spalsbury, 29, grew up in Kalamazoo. After graduating from Kalamazoo Central she attended Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Minneapolis. Five years later she moved back to Kalamazoo and worked for Webster's Prime and Zazio's before leaving to open her own business. 

Mario at LFG. Second Wave sat down with Amy to conduct a short interview shortly after the winter holidays. During the interview, Amy opens up to us about her experience as a first-time small business owner in Kalamazoo. 

Second Wave: What types of challenges did you encounter during the process of opening your business in Downtown Kalamazoo? 

Amy Spalsbury: “The hardest part of the process for me was that people didn't take me seriously. I had a lot of things going against me. First, I've never owned a business before. Second, I'm young. 29. I guess in the business world they would consider that to be young for opening your own business, especially a business of this size, where I have employees. The third was financial. I don't have thousands upon thousands of dollars just hanging around like a common entrepreneur does. I don't have the resources or the investors that a common entrepreneur does. I think that's what made the process a lot more difficult because a lot people were very hesitant about helping me out or getting this approved. 

"It was also challenging making a business plan at first. When I started researching I wanted to have those statistics in there with the success rate and profitability and I couldn't find anything. But I did partner with WMU’s School of Business and together we came up with a strategic business plan.” 

S.W.: What inspired you to open this type of business here in Kalamazoo?

A.S.: “My husband and I were in Orlando. We went to this video game bar that I had Googled and I was just in love with it! I didn’t think that you could combine all these things that I really enjoy. I just couldn't believe that nobody’s done this in Kalamazoo yet, I feel like it would be a very successful idea (in Kalamazoo).  And at the time I knew I wanted to open my own business but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at first. 

“Once we saw the place in Orlando I told my husband, I wanna open this place. This sounds awesome!  I was just joking at the time (thinking) it's never gonna happen. But then it slowly started to make its way to reality.” 
All games need rules. Here are the establishment's guidelines. Note: Do not be a trolll!
S.W.: What can people expect during their first visit to LFG? 

A.S.: “At LFG we specialized in canned beer so we don't provide draft or glass bottles. We aren’t a full-service restaurant. We operate as a bar so customers should go up to the bar to order food and drinks. We want community vibe instead of something so formal. We also just don’t have the staff right now to be full service. On slower nights sometimes we have the staff bring items out to tables but especially on busier nights (weekends), go up to the bar.  I recommend that gaming customers check out the Chalkboard at the front of the bar. It has the list of the available games and the gaming schedule. Any purchase comes with tokens for the games we have. If customers need more they can also purchase tokens at the bar.”

With a background in the culinary arts, it comes to no surprise that Spalsbury’s menu for Liquor Food Games is fun and full of variety. Food options on the menu are Co-op Mode or appetizers such as the G.T.A Rice City or the Chocobo Wings. Single Player entree items include sandwiches served with fries or house made chips. Some Single Player must-haves are the Ganon’s Grilled Cheese which features cheddar cheese, mozzarella, tomato, caramelized onion, and bacon on a bun. The Sonic the Hedgehog's Chili Dog features locally sourced ingredients. Buns from the Sarkozy Bakery, locally sourced ground beef and brats from Carlson Farms.

LFG has also expanded its menu to include kid-friendly items such as corn dogs or chicken tenders with fries, ranging from $3 to $6. Spalsbury also noted the changes in menu prices after receiving increasing amounts of customer feedback and reviews. Co-Op Mode items now range from $6-$10. Singler Player prices range from $9 to $12 instead of $12 to $15. Beverages range in price from $3.50 to $5 for canned Michigan craft beer or $6 to $9 for specialty cocktails such as Luigi’s Man Cave and Assassin’s Mead.  

“After listening to customer feedback we did drop the price on our Single Player items. We wanted our items to be more friendly in price for our customers. It's really important to me that customers are satisfied with the menu options with give them at an agreeable price,” says Spalsbury. 

Starting Jan. 6, 2018 LFG will be hosting tournaments every week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursdays.

 For more information please visit here.