Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Molz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Spencer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve lived in Coral Springs for most of my life and always felt that we had to leave town to do anything fun and really wanted to change that. I wanted to open a place where people could come and socialize, interact and have fun instead of just sitting and drinking. I learned more and more about craft beer and retro video games and with the help of my long time friend and business partner Val, we created Game Night. A cozy spot in Coral Springs that packs a punch! Monday through Saturday night, you can find us elbow to elbow with locals out having a good time playing some of their favorite retro games as well as current games all the while drinking a craft beer, cocktail, wine or just a soda. People gather here over their shared interests and make new friends on a daily basis and we are always welcoming to new people.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing is ever as easy as it seems. Obtaining my beer license and getting it signed off from the city when it bounced around from different departments or weeks for no reason. Going into construction with very little know how and not enough money, we did a lot of the grunt work ourselves, from demolition, design and build out. Dealing with architecture plan adjustments, build out changes, city permits, writing checks to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Buying the right beers and finding what beers worked best for our area and venue, although that was more of a fun challenge.
Learning the nuances of your customer base has been a two year learning curve. What food sells better than others and why. Why some foods don’t sell the first time you introduce them, but bringing them back later on and they sell incredibly well. Just because a specific game is very popular among the gaming community doesn’t mean its a good game to buy for an arcade environment. When we get lots of requests to host a specific game tournament but then people are a no show. How customers like to sit when they are playing games and where they want to sit and hold the controller has always been a challenge because we are a small venue and if you have a bad layout, it can make your space seem that much more smaller and crowded. And moving different games to different areas creates a bigger space and a more comfortable gaming experience. All the little things that you wouldn’t think would be a problem become a problem that needs to be solved. It’s a very interesting and rewarding experience.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Game Night story.
When you come to Game Night for the games, you stay for everything else that we have to offer. At any point, you can stop in and find Sixpoint Resin, Elysian Space Dust, Cigar City Jai Alai, Wynwood Father Francisco, MIA Tourist Trappe, or domestic favorites from Bud Light, Yuengling, Corona and more. We pride ourselves on being an affordable craft beer venue. We are usually a one to three dollars less than our competitors for the same craft beer. However if beer’s not your taste we also offer signature cocktails such as Super Smash Berries, Spirit Bomb or Princess Peach. As well as bar favorites; margaritas, Mai Tais, Long Islands or hurricanes. You can also find a wide variety of house wines and non-alcohol drinks. And we always have great bites like chicken wings, burgers and gourmet hot dogs like our crowd pleasing Colombian Hot Dog. We have a Cuban sandwich and grilled cheese that you won’t find anywhere else, you have to stop in and try. Game Night is also one of the few bar arcade’s that is family friendly. Coral Springs is a family town and we didn’t want to shut out our hometown base. That is why we are open to all ages. Parents can bring their kids and teens can hang out on their own. The only difference is that under 21 pays an $8 cover charge, and that’s all. Once they pay that, they are welcome to stay and play all day. We’re more than just games here!!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The video game industry and esports. In general, is still in its growth period and because of that, the bar and arcade industry will continue to grow and expand over the next decade. More and more towns across the country will get their own version of the local bar that serves craft beer and hosts a Mario Kart 64 tournament. I don’t think you’ll see too many chain locations of bar arcades because part of the appeal is that they are all different, and unique to the town and owner’s personality. I think patrons really like to see a bar’s personality and how it fits into the community rather than a chain that will look the same where ever you go.
Pricing:
- Under 21 pays an $8 cover charge, all games are free to play.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2125 N University Drive Coral Springs Fl, 33071
- Website: www.gamenightarcade.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @gamenightarcade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamenightarcade/
- Twitter: @gamenightarcade
Image Credit:
artwork by Dale @ftloiterdale_art and Angie @ghost.toastx on Instagram
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