Just days after winery Infinite Monkey Theorem announced it will be packing up its bottles and moving out of its taproom in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace after this weekend, Stanley officials have announced what’s replacing it: Galaga.
Well, not just Galaga. That classic outer space fighter pilot game will be joined by a Pac-Man and a variety of other classic and contemporary arcade games in a new business dubbed Stanley Arcade. The “vintage-inspired” game room is slated to open Nov. 1 with a bash that will include a DJ and prize giveaways, according to a news release.
Stanley Arcade will be the first full-service, public arcade from Andrew Shear, the owner of Mile High Arcade, a video game machine rental and game room design business based in Park Hill.
“This will be an exciting arcade with all of the classic arcade machines that we have come to love, along with some brand new games,” Shear said in a statement. “It’s going to be a beautiful mash-up of old meets new with pinball machines, air hockey, and Skee-ball, too.”
Shear, who started his rental business in his garage in 2009, has had an eye on space in Stanley for a few years, according to marketplace representatives, but an opportunity didn’t pop up until Infinite Monkey Theorem chose not to renew its lease there.
RELATED: Infinite Monkey Theorem is closing its Stanley Marketplace taproom
The soon-to-be-former winery space is on the third floor of the market hall, away from a bulk of the other dining and drinking options on the ground level. Once the breakroom for the former ejection seat factory, the room is near the kid-friendly MindCraft makerspace and two floors above the Bounce Stapleton children’s gymnastics studio, businesses that, on paper, seem like natural neighbors for an arcade.
“We knew an arcade would be a great fit here,” marketplace co-founder Mark Shaker said in a statement. “But we had to wait for the right space to become available.”
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The arcade-but-for-adults concept is well-established in Denver. The 1up Arcade Bar has gone from one location in Lower Downtown to three locations — one on East Colfax Avenue and another in Greenwood Village — in less than a decade. Punch Bowl Social has taken its blend of food, booze and games national after getting started in Denver. Stanley Arcade is aiming at being more all-ages in its appeal.
It will sell slushies and other alcohol-free drinks but no booze. Because Stanley Marketplace has a common consumption liquor license, drinking-age adults will be allowed to bring in beverages from other establishments in the building, according to this week’s announcement.
Stanley Arcade can be found at: Stanley Marketplace, 2501 N. Dallas St., Aurora, Hours: 3-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, stanleyarcade.com.
