Experiencing the regrowth of arcade culture first hand in San Diego is awe inspiring, especially considering that places like Coin Haus and Coin-Op Northpark have sprouted up as recent as 2013. Both of these arcades may be two sides of the same coin, but they are still distinctly different houses of play. What is clear is that they both deserve to be experienced…
“And if you haven’t been, then you need to get out to these arcades.”
COIN HAUS
Walking up main street La Mesa, you’ll hang a left at the top of the street onto Allison Avenue. You’ll go past a series of cute shops, wooden arches tangled in vines. You’ll hear the sounds of what could be just another artsy bar. It isn’t until you see the spray painted letters above the building that you know you’re in for something good.
“Ready Player One? Like you even have to ask.”
Now you’re inside, and possibly confused. Tables to the right (one with a Light Bright even), a giant orange shipping crate in front of you, and a few cabinet games to the left of you. Obviously, you go left to the games. But, you stop as someone from behind calls out, “You’ll need a wristband.”
As innovative as Coin Haus undoubtedly is, it does employ a potentially dangerous way of paying for drink and game. Simply wave your key fob attached to your wrist band, wait for the green light, and you’re set. There’s one little hitch. The wrist band doesn’t tell you how much you’ve spent. That’s not necessarily a problem if you’re even a little good at math, but there’s another minor problem in that being-good-at-math thing…
Self pour.
That giant shipping crate in the center of the arcade? Yeah, it’s filled end to end with a ludicrously large selection of brew on tap. On both sides. These aren’t your run of the mill big name brands either. Local brews, imports, fine wine, even coffee beer. If you’re not acting like the responsible adult you should be, you may totally forgot why you came here in the first place…
“Here’s a hint: look behind you.”
The GAMES!
Yeah, Coin Haus has games too. Lining the back wall, a well curated collection of games from the eighties to today awaits. Activated by the same wrist band no less. Despite Joust being out of order when this reviewer was present, all the other games seemed to be in perfect order. In fact the whole place was in pristine order. Coin Haus in a sense is a micro brewery if it were owned and operated by the Mario Brothers.
There is no shame in saying Coin Haus is first and foremost one of the most innovative bars built around an arcade motif. They don’t do snacks. They don’t do specialty entrees.
They do beer, and they do it exceptionally well.
Personally, neither my wallet or liver were able to sample each and every beer, wine, (and coffee beer?) but with a self pour, and easy to use wrist band for beer and video games that is certainly an option for you.
Drink responsibly, play video games liberally, and go check out Coin Haus.
“This is the most polite way to say don’t be a drunk asshole we’ve ever seen, so please take heed.”
Coin-Op North Park
As one who has been through the cement hellscape that is Los Angeles, finding a prime parking spot on 30th street a stone’s throw away from Coin-Op in North Park was a pleasant surprise. Walking across Lincoln Ave toward University, there are many a cocktail lounge to stop by. But, there’s only one Coin-Op… sort of.
Before you enter, you’ll need to flash your ID. Tough luck if you’re under twenty one. This is a cocktail bar after all. Still once inside, you feel like you’ve walked into your best friend’s garage. You know the one; the friend that had the same console as you, but with all the games you didn’t have, and the snacks, and the drinks…
“Can you spot the Hulk serving you beer in this picture?”
Coin-Op feels a lot like your best friend’s garage when you two were playing TMNT and one of you said, “Maybe we should invite So-So over?”
Then the other one of you said, “Let’s invite EVERYONE over!”
“Sure even these guys. But, if this turns into a Mario Party, may Arceus have mercy on your soul.”
The only wall not covered in video games is the one with the bar. We’re assuming the kitchen doesn’t have any arcade cabinets hidden back there either, but we’ll never know for sure. We only found the one change machine in the back. No key FOBs, no custom printed tokens, just quarters. There’s also a backyard with games if you need fresh air and some peace.
“Pictured: the saddest game of Jenga ever.”
In contrast with Coin Haus, Coin-Op Northpark feels and looks like a really cool party that ballooned uncontrollably into a block party. So what if that block party is crammed into a space a little bigger than a three car garage? It has everything you need. Did we not mention the games?
Or the drinks?
“Book ’em Danno. Quoting the television show? No, I was ordering the drink.”
Now we live in a time that is truly an embarrassment of riches in geek culture. Both Houses of Coin are but two of many arcades in San Diego; all of which Geekscape will eventually visit. Even greater still, Coin-Op North Park is but one of the soon to be Coin-Op Franchise. With one already in Sacramento, and another Coin-Op soon to be opened in San Francisco, arcade culture shows no signs of slowing down. It’s spreading.
This December, when Coin-Op opens its sister property in San Fran, you better believe Geekscape will be there to cover it.
Until then, get out there, and get your game on.