How we got here
Owned by Zane and Michelle Fielding, and Nicole and John Palacios, Pixel Palace Arcade and Bar opened to the public on Oct. 14. The vision first came to Zane Fielding when he began crowdsourcing for the business on social media in 2017.
From then on, he started the search for specific furnishing details to make the bar as authentic as possible.
“I want everyone to walk in here and feel like they’re back in the ‘90s or ‘80s—walking in the arcade and having that feeling they did as a kid, teenager [or] whatever it is,” Zane Fielding said.
Despite its recent opening, the arcade has already grown a dedicated community. The business’ Discord channel contains nearly 700 members who helped the owners decide what changes to make during the testing phase of the bar’s opening.
More details
From the music and the neon lighting to the custom tokens used by customers to play the arcade games, the business works to curate a nostalgic experience.
“We may not know each other but everyone who grew up in that era shared the same things,” John Palacios said. “What we want is people to have the moment here where... they hear a song or the sound of an arcade game and it teleports them back to when they were 14 years old.”
The bar features a variety of arcade games that Zane Fielding found across the country. Games will be rotated out every so often to give customers a fresh experience each time they visit.
One last thing
The bar’s menu serves classic entrees such as pizza and burgers in addition to specialty items including hot pockets and deep fried Uncrustables. Individuals have a variety of drink options, including 20 taps of beer with an emphasis on local breweries to choose from, or a variety of cocktails.
The business even features its own museum where owners and community members can donate retro items to join the display. Customers can stay tuned for recurring tournaments and themed nights, John Palacios said.
- 2471 S. AW Grimes Blvd. Round Rock
- www.pixelpalacearcade.com
