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ROY — A local dentist married the current “dirty soda” craze with a 1980s-style arcade, and it’s now open for business.
James Anderson really enjoyed playing arcade games when he was growing up. He said people would watch each other play the games, so there was social interaction, and it was always fun to get your name on a high score board.
“And it was local, and it was intimate, it was just a fun place to hang out when you’re a kid,” Anderson said.
He said kids still play video games these days, but it’s usually on an iPhone and an iPad by themselves in some corner.
For about the last 20 years, Anderson has been collecting arcade games in his basement.
“They’re all in pristine order,” he said. “I make sure that everything is just perfect, all the graphics are redone, all the monitors are recapped. Everything is rebuilt, so … the games all look brand new. And ... I wanted them to look like they were in 1984.”
Anderson heard about arcade bars outside of Utah, which consist of classic arcade games and bars. After going to Fiiz and Swig, Anderson thought he could combine a “soda bar” with an arcade and make a type of arcade bar that would match Utah’s culture, he said.
Visitors to Anderson’s new business, Flynn’s Retrocade, have access to a full soda bar and about 40 games. While they are playing the games, they will hear 80s music. The floor is made up of a Ms. Pacman maze, a Donkey Kong maze and a Dig Dug maze.
Anderson said they developed a web application that keeps track of everybody’s high score. Those who get a high score on the arcade games win a free drink.
The grand opening for Flynn’s Retrocade was Aug. 6. It is open Monday through Saturday from noon until 10 p.m. during the summer. In the fall, it’ll be open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $5 for one hour and $10 for a full day. The admission price includes all video games, but the pinball machine costs 25 cents to play, according to Anderson.
It is located at 3626 W. 5600 South, Suite A, in Roy.
