From Frogger To Dr. Mario: Behind-The-Scenes Of A Retro Arcade

“Some of the partners have played video games their whole lives,” said Chris Trendler, General Manager and Partner at Decades. “So we thought that bringing a new take on the arcade experience would be something our town didn't know it needed.”

Chris, and fellow Decades partners Adam Ozimek and Jonathan Yeager, opened Decades in 2019 after years of planning, ideation, and discussion. The three were working together since 2011 developing and managing popular Lancaster City events such as the Lancaster Craft Beerfest and Lancaster City Restaurant Week.

Creating a unique destination downtown seemed like the perfect next step in offering a new fun experience.

*A wide shot of the arcade, restaurant, bar, and bowling alley at Decades!*

“Opening Decades was a natural step to a brick and mortar business that could be open to the public all the time and not just a one day or a once a year event,” added Chris. “Luckily, we found a building that would accommodate all of our ideas in one space. The historic Stahr Armory was the perfect venue to house all of our entertainment–including our bowling alley, restaurant, bar, and retro arcade.”

Chris has a robust background in the food and beverage industry–from starting at age 22 as a busboy to working up through a variety of management positions. He held a variety of roles at Gibraltar (the Franklin & Marshall College location), The Hamilton Club, Penn Square Grille (at the Marriott Convention Center, now Plough restaurant), Willow Valley, and currently Decades.

He also achieved his sommelier certification in 2009 which has helped influence a variety of menus over the years and give him a unique perspective for the company as it strategically moves forward.

*Chris Trendler, Partner & Operations Manager at Decades*

“My background in food and beverage has allowed us at Decades to offer not only fun and games with arcade cabinets and bowling, but awesome quality food and drinks for our guests,’ said Chris. “We love offering fun takes on food and cocktails that we think will surprise people and provide a flexible backdrop to the overall experience.”

One of the main attractions is the over 40 retro arcade games at Decades–ranging from Frogger, to skeeball, to Dr. Mario–and Chris helps to maintain the operations of each system. You can explore the full list of available games here!

I chatted with Chris to get an inside look at what makes a retro arcade tick–and why it’s the perfect destination for throwback celebration.

*Chris fixes some of the net on Hoop Fever*

Inside Look: Gaming Greats

At Decades, the partners always wanted to offer some of their favorite retro arcade games–focusing on a blend of nostalgia and gameplay.

“We have a ton of different options,” said Chris. “Whether you’re looking for classics like Super Mario Bros. and Galaga, or newer games from the early 2000s like Terminator Salvation and Dance Dance Revolution.”

The maintenance of the games takes place on a daily basis, ensuring that each joystick, button, and screen is set before Decades opens. Some of the games may have small bugs typical for retro gaming systems that need to be fixed prior to use–this helps not only the experience but the longevity of the games.

“We do a lot of the quick fixes and ongoing maintenance ourselves,” added Chris. “Anything that goes above our heads we have a guy that has worked with NAMCO for 20-plus years. Anytime he's working on the games we pick up little tips and tricks where we can to improve our own skill set.”

The games are all truly unique in their own way.

“People would be surprised that these games all have their own little quirks and routines,” said Chris. “Our team is aware of each game’s specific patterns and how to address them.”

*A look at under a joystick and button board*

Some of the most popular games are skeeball and Hoop Fever, along with some of the driving games like Mario Kart and Cruis'n' World so these games usually see the most action, especially on busy nights.

Decades also just opened a new elevated mezzanine, overlooking the entire venue. The mezzanine has tabletop games like foosball and air hockey, along with a two-player Space Invaders Frenzy (which is huge!).

*The newly-added Space Invaders Frenzy game*

*Working on bowling lanes is very serious business as seen here*

Seeking Strikes

Bowling is another aspect of Decades’ entertainment offerings–with a six lane alley full of free-flying pins. The lanes are full service and first-come, first-serve, so guests can order food and drinks while they’re bowling strikes (or at least trying to!) based on availability for the day.

“The bowling alley kind of came into the picture as another way to incorporate fun, competition and social interactions,” said Chris. “It’s another great part of the guest experience here.”

Each lane often needs maintenance with re-stringing pins, working on small jams, or oiling the lanes on a weekly basis to ensure each is slick and ready for bowlers.

Between the bowling and arcade, the nostalgic entertainment pairs well with the delicious food and drinks offered to create a great getaway for date night, work outings, family celebrations, special events, or just a night out for dinner.

What’s Next

Decades is celebrating their 5-year anniversary March 2024 (and all year long)!

From new games and revamped menu items, to more space for events and exciting outdoor options, they continue to develop creative ideas to keep the place fresh while offering even more options for memories to be made.

“We’re really excited about our five year anniversary and what we will add next,” said Chris. “Stay tuned for some new gaming opportunities and some cool outdoor announcements that will add even more fun, games, food, and drinks to the Decades experience.”

There is a lot to look forward to–and the guest experience is always at the forefront.

“If you haven't had a chance to visit Decades yet, you need to check it out–unless you hate fun, food, and having a good time. If that's the case don't worry about it,” Chris added with a laugh. “I like to think that we have something to offer for everyone.”

Check out our hours and plan your visit to Decades! Game on.