http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140211/logan-square/logan-arcade-opens-monday-with-25-plus-pinball-machines-40-video-gamesLogan Hardware was once a record store and provided free access to a retro arcade in the back room for paid patrons. That operation moved down the block recently and that business will continue to operate with the free games.
In their old location, they are opening a retro video game mecca complete with a bar and, from what I can tell, a ton of pinball and arcade games in original, mint condition. Knowing the owner, this will be the creme de la creme of retro arcades. I don't have the complete list of video games, but the really interesting ones include Major Havoc, Black Widow, Ice Cold Beer, Crazy Climber, 720 Degrees, every iteration of
, Bubbles,
, 6-player X-Men, Tapper, and Tron. The pinball collection is even more incredible with titles from every era... including Revenge from Mars which John knows very well!
You can make a weekend of arcade action on the north side of Chicago, which includes Logan Arcade, two locations of Emporium, and Headquarters Beercade. You can then venture to the suburbs and play many ORIGINAL cabs at Underground Retrocade (and, yes, the owner will be getting an original Q*Bert soon ;) ) and Galloping Ghost Arcade (400+ games, but most early 80s classic are original cabs, plus a nice pinball collection when that expansion area is open).
The video game scene in Chicago is a nice consolation prize for the horrifically brutal winter we have had!