ATHENS, Ohio — The Star Chamber Arcade opened on Court Street this past October, and its owner says the business has attracted a broad cross-section of the community, including students, families and young children.
The arcade opened officially Oct. 2, at 74 N. Court St., Suite 001. The business is open seven days a week to all ages and features a variety of games. The Star Chamber also sells ice cream, candy, and a limited selection of alcohol.
Over a month into opening, owner and Athens local Nick Muntean is starting to get a handle on how the business fits into people’s lives.
“There’s been a lot of organic growth I was hoping for,” Muntean told the Independent, noting the business is particularly crowded on weekends.
Muntean’s efforts to open an arcade began in July 2019. After securing a lease, he began collecting the actual games, which he joked is “backwards from the way people usually do it.”
As he developed the arcade, Muntean realized he had been subconsciously recreating an Athens staple from his childhood: The Lollipop, which once sat at 11 W. Union St. in Uptown Athens.
Just as The Lollipop was an important part of Muntean’s childhood, he said he hoped from the beginning that the Star Chamber Arcade would appeal to families. With that in mind, Muntean chose not to display any beer logos, for instance.
The effort to appeal to families has been successful, he said.
“I knew the hipsters would like it, but I’m even more excited to see parents with young children and college students loving it,” he said.
One of those students is Quincy Thomas. “I really enjoy the environment; the staff is super kind and chill, plus the actual space is comfortable,” Thomas said. “I don’t feel pressured to move if I’m having fun — nor do I feel the need to wait on a specific game since you can try so many.”
The arcade features mainly vintage games, though Muntean doesn’t consider himself a preservationist. He says his intention with the Star Chamber “was always to bring the arcade environment into a modern Athens.”
Games at the Star Chamber include a “Twilight Zone” pinball machine, a game Muntean remembers spending a lot of time playing during his youth. Spy Hunter, a 1983 vehicular combat game, is another important offering for Muntean — so much so that he said he wouldn’t have wanted to open the arcade without it.
“It’s one of those games that you play and think: ‘This game just rules,’” Muntean said.
The Star Chamber Arcade holds special events to boost community engagement, such as “high-score contests” for games like Ms. Pac-Man and Centipede.
The arcade hosted its first-ever game tournament Nov. 4, a round-robin style Mortal Kombat 3 bracket that featured a $100 gift card as the grand prize. Muntean called the tournament a “test-run.”
He said the tournament made him realize he wants to focus more on community-driven activities going forward.
“The appreciation has been so rewarding and incredible,” Muntean said. “I’m reduced to tears almost on the daily. Doing something people are this excited about is an indescribably good feeling.”
Information on events at the Star Chamber Arcade is available on the business’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
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