Gameon Bar + Arcade

What Gameon Bar + Arcade does

GameOn Bar + Arcade is a privately held bar-and-arcade entertainment concept founded in 2022 by co-owners Eli and Casey Linthicum. The company operates physical venues that combine a full bar (beer, wine, cocktails, spirits), a food menu, and a curated 60+ game arcade spanning classic titles (Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Galaga) and modern machines (Stranger Things, John Wick, Ghost Busters pinball), plus supplementary amenities such as private karaoke rooms, outdoor patios with games including cornhole and giant Jenga, resident DJ nights, and event spaces. The Annapolis flagship is housed in a historical firehouse featuring a preserved spiral firepole staircase, a distinctive physical asset that contributed to a national Top 21 Best Arcade in the US ranking within the company's first year.

The business operates four announced locations in the Mid-Atlantic: Annapolis (operating since March 2022), Baltimore (operating since May 2022, relocated to a larger footprint in 2024 with expanded outdoor space and four bars), Columbia (operating since 2023 with two bars and a private mezzanine), and Washington DC on U Street NW (coming soon, first location outside Maryland). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via walk-in retail at physical locations, with party and event bookings handled through the ReserveWithRex online reservation platform and gift cards distributed through the Toast Tab system. No virtual or online gameplay component is offered.

Revenue is generated across four streams: per-play arcade revenue (most games priced at 50 cents to $1, accepting quarters and $1 bills), food and beverage sales, private event/party package bookings, and gift cards. Customer segments include adults seeking nightlife and social entertainment (primary), families with children (until 8 PM with adult supervision), and private event planners covering birthdays, corporate events, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. The company is founder-controlled, has 1-10 reported employees, has raised no disclosed institutional funding, and maintains no parent company or subsidiary structure.

Name

Gameon Bar + Arcade

Legal name

GameOn Bar + Arcade

Website

https://gameonbararcade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GameOn Bar + Arcade is a privately held Mid-Atlantic bar-and-arcade chain founded in 2022 by Eli and Casey Linthicum, operating three physical venues in Annapolis, Baltimore, and Columbia, Maryland, with a fourth Washington DC location coming soon, serving adults, families, and private event bookers with classic and modern arcade games, full bar service, food, and party packages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arcade Bar Hospitality and Entertainment

NAICS

Amusement Arcades (71312), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Gaming Café/Bar Hybrid Venues (Food & Beverage + Competitive Play) (MPAFALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neighborhood Bars & Taverns (CRANACAA), Coin-Operated Entertainment (Pinball, Crane/Claw, Jukebox, Darts/Billiards) (MPAEAJAF)

Keywords

• Arcade bar venues
• Classic pinball machines
• Bar food service
• Private party hosting
• Coin-operated games

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Full bar service with beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, and food menu. Multiple bars at each location including specialty bars like crush bar and sports bar in Baltimore.
2. Arcade Game Play: Coin-operated arcade games and pinball machines. Most games cost 50 cents to $1, accepting quarters and $1 bills.
3. Private Event Hosting: Party packages for private events including private karaoke rooms, mezzanine spaces, and outdoor patios. Booked through online reservation system.
4. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold through Toast Tab platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

GameOn Bar+Arcade operates physical arcade bar venues offering a combination of classic and modern arcade games, pinball machines, full bar service (beer, wine, cocktails, spirits), and a food menu. Each location provides a mix of pay-per-play games, outdoor patio games, private event spaces, and bookable party packages for birthdays, corporate events, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. The company runs three operating locations in Maryland and one announced venue in Washington DC.

Product overview

GameOn Bar+Arcade is a bar and arcade entertainment venue founded in 2022, offering a combination of arcade gaming, full bar service, food, and party/event hosting. The core offering consists of arcade gaming experiences with classic and modern games alongside full bar service featuring beers, wines, cocktails, and spirits. Additional offerings include party packages, karaoke rooms, food menus, and outdoor gaming areas. The company operates four locations: Annapolis (first location, March 2022), Baltimore (second location), Columbia (third location), and DC (fourth location). The venue welcomes minors until 8 PM when accompanied by an adult.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arcade Gaming Experience Pay-per-play access to 60+ classic and modern arcade games and pinball machines (Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Galaga, Stranger Things, John Wick, Ghostbusters pinball, etc.). Most games cost 50 cents to $1, accepting quarters or $1 bills. Available to walk-in guests across all GameOn locations.
• Full Bar Service Full bar offering ice cold beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits at each location. Each venue features multiple themed bars, including specialty concepts such as the crush bar and sports bar at the Baltimore venue.
• Private Party Packages Bookable private event packages including dedicated spaces such as the 2nd-floor mezzanine in Columbia, private karaoke room in Annapolis, and outdoor patios. Pricing and availability documented per location.
• Karaoke Room Bookings Private karaoke room available at the Annapolis location for group entertainment bookings, accessed via the ReserveWithRex platform.
• Digital Gift Cards Digital gift cards sold online through the Toast Tab platform for use at any GameOn Bar+Arcade location.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Free Play Arcade Bar: Multi-location arcade bar concept offering retro and modern games alongside craft cocktails. Directly comparable hybrid entertainment model targeting adults with classic games and full bar service.
• Swingers: Upscale competitive socializing venue combining crazy golf, food, cocktails, and entertainment. Comparable adult-skewing hybrid entertainment-and-bar concept, though anchored around golf rather than arcade games.
• Barcade: Pioneering arcade-bar hybrid chain combining classic and modern arcade games with full bar service. Directly comparable concept, pricing model (pay-per-play games), and adult-skewing entertainment positioning, though more established with multi-city footprint.
• Two-Bit Retro Arcade: Retro-arcade bar featuring classic cabinets alongside craft cocktails and food. Comparable niche-positioning within the arcade-bar hybrid category, focused on nostalgic gaming with adult beverage service.
• Player 1 Video Game Bar: Regional arcade bar concept pairing video and arcade games with full bar service and food. Closely comparable format to GameOn's classic-and-modern game mix with alcohol-centric nightlife positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Dave & Buster's: National family entertainment center chain combining arcade and amusement games with full bar, restaurant, and event hosting. Overlaps with GameOn's party/event revenue stream and game-centric positioning, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader demographic appeal.
• Main Event Entertainment: Family entertainment center offering bowling, laser tag, billiards, arcade, and food/beverage. Comparable entertainment-venue, party-hosting, and bar-service business model, but at significantly larger footprint and broader activity mix.
• Bowlero: National bowling entertainment chain with full bars, arcade games, and event hosting. Comparable in delivering multi-activity entertainment with strong bar and event revenue, though bowling-anchored rather than arcade-anchored.
• Punch Bowl Social: Larger entertainment-venue chain combining bowling, karaoke, arcade-style games, and full bar/dining. Overlaps with GameOn's party-hosting, karaoke, and multi-activity positioning but operates at greater scale and broader activity mix.

Regional players

• Recess Arcade Bar: Regional arcade bar competitor offering retro and modern games with bar service. Comparable format and pricing structure, though primarily serves a different geographic market outside the Mid-Atlantic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gameon-bar-arcade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gameon Bar + Arcade