Glasgow’s first arcade bar receives Kickstart from online campaign

Super Bario is set to open its doors in February but needs some extra cash to complete the build.

The brains behind Glasgow’s first arcade bar are appealing for help to kit out their premises in exchange for prints and a mention on their wall of fame, as part of an exciting new crowd funding campaign

‘Super Bario’, which will be located on King Street, is now the subject of an innovative crowd funding campaign on Kickstarter where its three owners are offering gifts in return for donations.

A target of £5000 in 30 days has been set and will go towards building a bar and cellar, upgrading the decor with the help of local artists and electrical work to power the games, among other things. The total currently stands at over £3,000 with six days to go.

Super Bario is the brainchild of clothing store owner George, freelance photographer Shaun and retail manager Scott who spotted a gap in the market.

“Arcade bars have been gaining popularity in the US and further afield for a few years now but are still a relatively new thing in the UK and Europe” George explains. 
“We really think there’s a gap in the market for this in Glasgow and wanted to provide somewhere that offers something a bit different from most bars in the city centre.”

Super Bario will be offering customers an extensive list of games including Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., Tekken 3, Mortal Kombat II and Street Fighter 2 to enjoy along with some of the best Scottish beer.

The bar will also be offering locally sourced coffee and American sodas for those who want to be completely clear of mind when gaming.

With their Kickstarter page gaining a lot of momentum, George describes the response as overwhelming and really positive.

“It has surpassed our expectations! We have over 1,000 likes on Facebook already and the Kickstarter page is doing really well. We just need a final push in the last few days and hopefully we can meet our target. If the target isn’t met we don’t receive any of the funding.

To receive either retro-inspired gaming prints or to have your name displayed permanently in the bar as part of their “Hall of Fame” plaque, a pledge of £15 or more is required.

After over a year of waiting, the three boys are closer than ever to achieving their dream in providing Glasgow with a completely new experience.

“We hope to provide somewhere that’s a bit different to existing bars, where our customers can relax with a few beers (or a coffee!) and enjoy the games”, George explains.

“All of our machines are original 80’s/90’s cabinets with original hardware which is a big factor for us as we want to keep everything authentic. We’re also putting a big emphasis on using local brewers and beers, as well as a variety of more unusual beers from a bit further afield. We hope to do food in the coming months as well.”