Whether you’re a video game fanatic or just a devotee of local craft beer, this Monday is turning out better than usual: it’s opening day for Barcade Philadelphia! At noon today the doors opened at the long-awaited Fishtown branch of the Brooklyn-based vintage arcade game and taphouse.

Proprietors Paul Kermizian, Scott Beard and three other partners chose a centuries-old warehouse on Frankford Avenue for their third Barcade (there’s also one in Jersey City). The industrial shell of the building remains intact, and the interior is replete with the rough textures of exposed brick and corrugated metal. After entering through a fenced-in patio (complete with a roomy bike rack), a long bar lined with eclectic stools leads back to the arcade. 35 vintage games ring the room, each lovingly restored and all set for 25-cent plays. Burger Time is there, beeping and blipping next to classics like Asteriods, Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Tron, Tapper and many more. 

To go with the serious games (world records for Donkey Kong and Star Wars have been set at the Williamsburg location) are some serious brews. Beer is only available on draft, and the selection is only domestic crafts, most sourced within the local region. Opening offerings include familiar faves like Philadelphia Brewing Co. Walt Wit, rarer finds such as Founders Dirty Bastard and less-regularly seen labels like Furthermore Knot Stock.  Beer prices top out at $7 per pour, but happy hour runs through 7 PM weekdays, and features $1 off all beers and well drinks, mixed from the fully-stocked bar.

The food menu is designed with the gamer in mind: nothing requires silverware, meaning you can hold your brew or joystick in one hand and manage your grub in the other. A smoker has been installed in the large backyard, and an array of sandwiches ($9 or less) make use of house-cured meats, from turkey to duck breast to pork and more. Also on the list are enticing bar snacks like Sriracha deviled eggs, pickled veggies with hop shoots and a chorizo quesadilla.

The bar opens at 4 PM Monday–Thursday and service starts at noon Friday–Sunday, which also brings a lunch special of any sandwich, beer and chips for just $10. There’s an in-house change machine, so the dollars you save can easily be translated into quarters for extra lives on your favorite machine.

1114 Frankford Ave.; 215-634-4400