From the outside, Till Dawn looks nondescript. But when you first walk into the new neighborhood bar in West Seattle, it feels like a trip triggered by a video game.
The walls are covered with murals inspired by the games. The LED lights flash different colors, resembling a gaming keyboard or a Twitch streamer’s background. There is also a collection of easter eggs, such as a star from Super Mario Brothers, guns from Devil May Cry, and Pipboy from Fallout.
The mystique is mostly intentional, says Andrew Spence, a Bay Area transplant who owns another West Seattle bar, 2 Finger’s Social.
“Through this building, I get the feeling that I don’t even know what’s going on outside,” he said last week during a tour of the space, which opens soon. “I wanted to feel that it takes you away from reality.”
The new gaming bar, located at 5048 California Ave SW, will cater mainly to coffee, beer and video game enthusiasts of all ages. There are 16 stand-up gaming stations, each with its own monitor and console. Patrons will be able to play games individually, tournament style or as teams. There will also be a private Dungeons and Dragons game room available for campaigns.
One of Spence’s main goals with Till Dawn is to make patrons feel comfortable, no matter where they’re coming from, and provide a space where gamers can come together to celebrate their love of video games.
Spence said the goal is to serve mostly walk-in customers. Patrons who drive must find street parking along the popular West Seattle strip.
Seattle-based Boon Boona will supply the coffee, while all main food items will be provided by local bakeries. The bar will also have a selection of “nerd gaming concessions,” ranging from Mountain Dew and Hot Cheetos, to Japanese-influenced snacks like rice candy and Hi-Chew.
Till Dawn has yet to get its beverage commission and will serve coffee drinks to earn an initial income. Once licensed, it will have more than 75 beers from around the world, along with high-end liquors, which will range in price from $12 to $15.
Spence said he plans to open for coffee and games within the next three weeks. The store will launch in limited hours from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The genesis of the name comes from the moment when gamers realize that they have been around too long, where the night becomes day, a familiar experience for Spence, who said that his passion for video games began when he got Atari PONG.
He also honed his craft as a restaurateur, serving as a bartender for over 23 years, starting at Brouwer’s Cafe in Fremont, where he worked for five years.
“There’s no retirement in bartending,” said Spence, who moved to Seattle in 1999. “You either open your own place or you end up a dinosaur bartender in a downtown hotel.”
Till Dawn will join a growing list of bars that incorporate video games, including Coindexter’s, Admiral Pub, Add-a-Ball, and others. The popular GameWorks Seattle reopened earlier this month. Top Golf, a high-tech driving range that includes other games, debuted in Renton this month, while Five Iron Golf, another high-tech golf experience, opened in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in March.
The Till Dawn site previously belonged to a licensing agency, which closed in late 2019 along with allegations of its shady dealings. Converting the site into a gaming bar has proven to be a difficult task, with new building regulations passed by the city adding time and costs to the project, Spence said.
He began the process of converting the site into a cafe in October, first reported by the West Seattle Blog, drawing curiosity and mounting hype from the surrounding community.
During our visit last week, a passerby poked his head in the window, commenting on how impressed he was with the layout and his love for Boon Boona coffee. Spence said that this happens often, and added that the community is anxious about the opening of the bar.
Who bought GameWorks?
announced today that it has new ownership. The arcade chain is now managed by ExWorks Capital. GameWorks has seven locations across the nation, including in cities such as Las Vegas, Denver, and Seattle. The complexes offer games and dining.
Is GameWorks Seattle reopening? The giant entertainment center aims to reopen on Wednesday afternoon after a shutdown caused by Covid. To see also : Mid-America Real Estate Corporation Executes Sale of LA Fitness in Westmont – REJournals. Its parent company, which was started in 1997 by Sega, Universal Studios, and DreamWorks (Steven Spielberg’s studio), closed all its locations just before Christmas 2021.
What happened to GameWorks?
On December 24, 2021, GameWorks announced that they would be closing all of their remaining locations, citing financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is GameWorks still in business?
GameWorks closes permanently, citing economic woes related to the pandemic. The pandemic has another victim: GameWorks announced its death in December. To see also : Is the transportation industry ready to recover?. On the esports and eatertainment concept’s website, officials said: “Thanks for the many years of memories!
Why did GameWorks close in Las Vegas?
Entertainment and dining complex GameWorks has closed several locations across the country, including in Las Vegas, due to a slow economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. To see also : No return: Return to office ‘expected to fail’ in Seattle, report says.
Why did GameWorks close in Seattle?
GameWorks’ previous management cited the slow economic recovery after the pandemic as the primary reason for closing the remaining US locations.
Are all GameWorks closed? GameWorks Over the years GameWorks filed for bankruptcy several times in the past including the years 2004 and 2010. And finally, on December 24, 2021, the company announced that it will be closing all of its locations its remaining arcade.
When did GameWorks Seattle Open?
GameWorks first opened in 1997 as part of a joint venture between video game developer Sega and film studios Universal Studios and DreamWorks. The Seattle location has been on 7th Avenue off Pike Street ever since. For more details on the arcade bar revival, check out this story from GeekWire.
Why did GameWorks shut down?
On December 24, 2021, GameWorks announced that they would be closing all of their remaining locations, citing financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is GameWorks a chain?
GameWorks is a chain of location-based entertainment venues featuring a wide range of video game arcades, in addition to full-service bars and restaurants. There are currently seven GameWorks locations across the United States, with the chain’s flagship store reopening in Las Vegas, NV.
Is GameWorks a franchise?
How many GameWorks locations are there?
After more than 25 years in business, an iconic arcade business has now closed its doors. GameWorks, Inc. it held six locations across the United States, including Las Vegas, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Minneapolis.
Is GameWorks going out of business?
GameWorks closes permanently, citing economic woes related to the pandemic. The pandemic has another victim: GameWorks announced its death in December. On the esports and eatertainment concept’s website, officials said: “Thanks for the many years of memories!
When did GameWorks Seattle Open?
GameWorks first opened in 1997 as part of a joint venture between video game developer Sega and film studios Universal Studios and DreamWorks. The Seattle location has been on 7th Avenue off Pike Street ever since. For more details on the arcade bar revival, check out this story from GeekWire.
When did GameWorks in Seattle close? When GameWorks, the popular arcade bar, closed its doors in December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed like a staple of the downtown Seattle community was gone forever.
How long was GameWorks open?
On the esports and eatertainment concept’s website, officials said: “Thanks for the many years of memories! The last 20 months and more have seen our business turn upside down and the ongoing slow economic recovery has left us with no choice but to close. â¦
Who started GameWorks in Seattle?
It was originally created in 1996 as a joint venture by Sega, DreamWorks SKG, and Universal Studios, with the company growing into an international chain. Two former executives subsequently acquired the Seattle location and reopened it in August, 2022.
