The Golden Age of the video arcade has come and gone but video gaming is still booming, so it may not be time to retire your parents’ Donkey Kong just yet. Although arcades are not as common as they once were, one brave local entrepreneur has brought back those ‘90s vintage arcade games and adapted them to the lifestyle of the third millennium. 

Down I-45, near Almeda Mall sits a bright blue warehouse with Super Mario emblazoned on the side, leaving drivers to wonder what that intriguing place could be. Well, that place is Game Guys, a repair shop that works on all gaming systems but that also houses an old-school video arcade as well as computers set up for newer gaming systems.

Game Guys owner Ruben Solis says he started the business October 2015 because he “wanted to do something different that all age groups could enjoy while waiting for their repairs.”

As customers walk through the door, they are instantly taken back to the 1990s with old school video arcade cabinets lining the wall featuring everything from shooter and fighting games to pinball and air hockey. On the right of the entrance is a 110-inch projector with a loud sound system for Guitar Hero and Rock Band, as well as a 65-inch screen for Dance Dance Revolution.

The venue offers hundreds of games to choose from, ranging from vintage video arcade games to newer PC and gaming counsels changed on a monthly basis. “That way, you will see a rotation of games for a new experience every time,” Solis says.

For competitive gamers, every Monday, Game Guys hosts Super Smash Bro tournaments for singles and doubles competing for cash prizes. Also, they host monthly events such as Cosplay nights, 18 and up evenings for older crowds, and movie showings.

“We provide a place where friends and family can relax and enjoy themselves when they get some free time from work or school,” Solis says.

Former employee turned regular customer Edward Bunch says the venue allows for an array of recreational options from a wide selection of gaming choices to a place to just let loose.

“College students usually meet up here for a stress reliever before a big exam or just to relax and have some fun with friends,” he says.

Meanwhile, the over 21 college crowd can BYOB (bring your own beer) making Game Guys a man’s paradise.

“Game guys was a man cave essentially” where Bunch says “the best nights with my guys are here.” 

The repair shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the arcade is open Thursday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight. The arcade admission fee is $10 during the week and $15 on the weekend. Patrons pay the initial fee and stay as long as they like.

Also, Solis says Games Guys plans on expanding shortly to further provide space and opportunities for “the people and gaming culture.”

Game Guys is located at 4108 Glenbrook Ct, Houston, TX 77087. Further information is available at www.game-guys.com.