By: Will Baumgartner

Even with the rise of at-home gaming, people still go to their local arcades and pay to play various analog games, from classics to newer games to games found in only one arcade in the country.

From playing Pac-Man for 25 cents a game in a local pizzeria to playing a one-of-a-kind game at the largest arcade in the U.S., arcades have been a staple of American culture for over 40 years. Whether it’s playing games in downtown Des Moines, having dinner and then going to play Galaga in Cedar Rapids, or exploring one of over a thousand games at Galloping Ghost Arcade, many arcades across the Midwest still draw in people who enjoy old video games.

The monsters come out to play in Des Moines, Iowa

In Des Moines, stands a relatively new arcade that first opened back in 2022: Monsterama Arcade & Pizzeria. As the name suggests, the arcade has a monster theme, differentiating itself from other arcades. 

General Manager of Monsterama, Ron Macken, talked about how he and owners Chris Pruisner and Jason Shreve envisioned a monster theme.

“Going with the monster theme, we wanted to have it kind of looking like more of a dilapidated warehouse that you’d be chased through, or Jason (the horror movie villain) would be coming after you,” Macken said. “So that was the idea behind the theme and we just went from there. Then, day after day, we brought in more toys, more props, more things and that’s where it came to be with all the monsters.”

A backroom lit by red, green, and blue ambient lights houses a variety of games. From 90s classics like “Crazy Taxi” to newer pinball machines from “Star Wars: The Mandalorian,” this arcade brings a unique setting to Des Moines.

According to Macken, Monsterama has 40-50 game cabinets and 10 pinball machines. The arcade also has a different payment system from other arcades in the Des Moines area. Instead of carrying around quarters for the machines, you pay a fee at the door.

“Our establishment runs differently from the other arcades in town,” Macken said. “We have a flat base admission fee. Once that fee is paid, we have a speakeasy door that you enter and then all of the games are set to free play.”

Monsterama is located near Grays Lake, approximately 5 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. “Not being in the East Village or downtown, we have to pull people in,” Macken said. “We have to become a destination spot at that point.” While Monsterama is not centrally located, they have other ways of attracting customers.

“We’re homey, there’s nowhere like this, and we like that we have something other people don’t,” Macken said. “We like that we have a relaxed atmosphere. We like that we can come in and hang out, and our friends, family, and other people can come in. It’s just a very homey place. It’s not a corporate environment at all.”

While arcades sometimes attract a younger audience, Macken described Monsterama as a fun place for all ages. Families enjoy eating at the restaurant or playing at the arcade. 

“Our model is we are a family restaurant that serves alcohol and has an arcade,” Macken said. “Children are welcome from open to close, and we have our full menu as well.” 

A barrel full of beer and games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Over 100 miles east of Monsterama in Cedar Rapids sits Quarter Barrel Arcade and Brewery, opened by Christopher Ellis and Lorelle Lindo in 2015. They came up with the idea of an arcade and bar when they were first dating, and they would go to an arcade called Dennis’ Place for Games in Chicago, Illinois. While Dennis’ Place for Games closed its doors in 2007, the ideas continued to inspire Ellis and Lindo.

“We were both into vintage arcade games, and we’d go play there for a while before meeting friends elsewhere for drinks,” Ellis said. “We’d always joke around like ‘ah, you know, it’d be cool if there was just a bar with arcade games.’”

While Ellis and Lindo had the idea for an arcade with a bar long before opening Quarter Barrel, it wasn’t until years later that Ellis saw his dream come true.

“After we got married, I went out to visit my sister in Brooklyn, and she took us to this bar called Barcade. I was like, ‘This idea exists,’” Ellis said.

After he and his wife moved to Iowa, Ellis talked about how state legislators changed Senate File 2088, making it easier to open a brewery in Iowa – microbreweries and independent craft brewers were now allowed to sell their products directly to the consumer rather than distribute it through the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. This change inspired them to create an arcade with a brewery. Later, they added a restaurant to the arcade.

“Super Mario Brothers” posters hang on Quarter Barrel’s brick walls, giving the arcade a retro feel. A combination of high-top tables where customers enjoy their food and pinball tables where people can play their favorite game ensures an exciting evening. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Quarter Barrel wasn’t open to the general public due to local restrictions. While they did have some revenue coming in through their restaurant, Ellis recognized that they were an arcade first.

“One thing that did work out well was we started doing some small group private events,” Ellis said. “Like, if a family of five wanted to essentially rent us out. Since nobody was in there anyway, we could host small families.”

This generated enough revenue to keep the business afloat and it reopened fully once the pandemic subsided. 

“Traffic started approaching normal last year,” Ellis said.

Similar to Monsterama in Des Moines, Quarter Barrel has eight pinball machines and 30 arcade games. However, it has a different payment model for games. Patrons have a roll of quarters and pay to play each game, similar to arcades that were common in the 1980s.

Ellis said his favorite is “Pac-Man.” Lindo’s favorite game is “Galaga,” which has a special meaning to both Lindo and Ellis.

“The ‘Galaga’ machine we have on the floor is the machine that I got her as a wedding present,” Ellis said. “If we ever get too old and sell off all the games, that’s the one coming back home.”

Since opening its doors in 2015, Ellis shared that the best part of owning Quarter Barrel is the customers who enjoy his arcade.

“It’s nice when I hear people that are like, ‘Oh, I was wearing my Quarter Barrel shirt out today.’ Somebody saw it and commented, ‘Oh, Quarter Barrel, I love that place,’” Ellis said.

The galloping and gaming ghosts of Brookfield, Illinois

Across state lines in Brookfield, Illinois, sits Galloping Ghost Arcade. Owned by Doc Mack, this arcade features 1,010 games, making it the largest arcade in the United States. Mack said his arcade serves customers by keeping the games working, which is a cornerstone of its business model.

“We see so many places where the games weren’t working,” Mack said. “We came up with the free play idea. Fixing the games and making sure everything played right is a huge priority.”

Mack opened Galloping Ghost Arcade in 2010. Many people who enjoyed class arcade games showed up at the grand opening, excited to see what had been created.

“It instantly took off,” Mack said. “We had lines over a block and a half long on opening night, and the demand for it was crazy.”

When customers walk into Galloping Ghost, they are greeted by rows of arcade cabinet games that range from classic 80s games such as “Tron” to a life-sized version of “Mario Kart.” As they walk down the rows of games, they can walk into new sections of the arcade, as Mack has expanded since opening in 2010, adding new types of games.

“Everybody in the industry was like, ‘you are out of your mind, there’s no way an arcade is going to last in today’s state of video gaming, nobody wants it,’” Mack said. “In eight months, we were profitable. It was such a crazy thing.”

One thing that helped make Galloping Ghost profitable was Mack’s policy on not outsourcing repairmen. Mack took on the challenge of repairing these games himself.

“You’ve got all this obscure arcade hardware to keep it running. It is surprisingly one of the things people underestimate,” Mack said. “It’s just learning it. I just love fixing arcade machines. I love seeing how everything works.” 

Galloping Ghost had been open for a decade by the time the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. Mack said closing its doors to the public due to local ordinances didn’t stop the arcade from showing off its games online.

“We would stream every day,” Mack said. “The first day we weren’t open to the public, it was a 15-minute stream, just being like, ‘Hey everybody, hope everybody is doing well.’”

The live streams, which showcased the games and artwork, went on for 170 days straight, with some lasting up to three hours. Galloping Ghost kept all staff on payroll during the pandemic, leading the arcade to $1 million in debt. 

Other businesses that Mack owned, such as Galloping Ghost Garage and Galloping Ghost Reproductions, were still earning revenue to keep the doors open. Even with the pandemic causing financial hardship, Mack said there was support from the community during this time.

“We had so many supporters surrounding us, saying, ‘If it ever gets really serious, let us know, we’ll be happy to throw money at you,’” Mack said. “Our bank account was basically empty. The minute we opened, it all shot back up. We were out of debt very quickly.”

Galloping Ghost recently celebrated its 14th anniversary by adding its 1,000th game to the arcade: “Road Blaster,” created by Data East and released in 1985. They are currently the only arcade in the country with a copy of this game. 

Another significant game among Galloping Ghost’s collection is“Death Race.” Developed by Exidy in 1976, a copy of “Death Race” is now one of the oldest games in Galloping Ghost Arcade.

Having owned Galloping Ghost for 14 years, Mack said his favorite part of his job is the people who come through his doors and the games’ impact on them. He said he enjoys watching the customers having a great time and de-stressing while playing his games. 

“People come up to me, and they’re so appreciative that they have such a place,” Mack said. “I’m the one that’s fortunate. It’s an unreal experience getting to do what I get to do and the amazing people I work with. It is not work for me, it’s a dream life.”