In The Game to Open in Peabody

by Marc Hurwitz

A small group of entertainment centers that include food, drink, and games is expanding to the Greater Boston area, with an outlet coming to the North Shore.

A message sent from @CappyinBoston indicates that In The Game is opening in Peabody, with the website and Facebook page for the Lowell Street business indicating that it may be opening next weekend. The upcoming spot will feature more than a hundred games including virtual reality and high-tech simulators while also offering arcade games, mini bowling, a rock wall, laser tag, and a ropes course, with food and drink options including burgers, steaks, pizza, pasta, beer, and cocktails.

In The Game, which is headquartered in Illinois, currently has four locations, including one each in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Texas.

The address for this new entertainment center in Peabody is: In The Game, 535 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA, 01960. The website for the business can be found at https://inthegame.net/

[March 17 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, In The Game opens in Peabody on Saturday, March 23.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Dave and Buster's Is Opening at the Natick Mall

by Marc Hurwitz

A chain of restaurants and entertainment spots is planning to open a third location in the Greater Boston area, taking over part of the space occupied by a department store.

According to an article in Wicked Local, Dave & Buster's is looking to open in the Natick Mall, with the plan being to take over part of the space that is currently occupied by Sears. The post says that Sears is consolidating the store there, vacating the second floor area and occupying the ground floor only, and that Dave & Buster's and another unnamed tenant are expected to open in the upstairs space. The proposed eatery and entertainment place has more steps to take before opening (including a meeting with the town planning board), but if all goes well and it does open at the Natick Mall, the new Dave & Buster's would join others in Braintree and Woburn.

Dave & Buster's, which is based on Dallas, features mainly traditional American fare and comfort food, while featuring TVs for sports viewing, video game arcades, and more. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.daveandbusters.com/

[May 31, 2019 update: A press release states that Dave and Buster's officially opens at the Natick Mall on June 24.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Balance Patch Video Game Cafe Is Opening in Boston

It looks like a video game cafe is on its way to Boston, moving into a space near the eastern edge of Allston that has been vacant for a long time.

Boston Magazine is reporting that Balance Patch is planning to open on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University (just east of Packards Corner), with the 6,300-square foot place including gaming options where patrons pay hourly, and a cafe that is free to enter and has sandwiches such as panini and subs along with coffee. The article says that if all goes as planned, the spot--which takes over a space that had been empty for 13 years and was once home to a recording studio--could be opening in mid-May.

The address for this new video game cafe is: Balance Patch, 1031 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at http://balancepatch.com/

[August 17 update: According to a Facebook post, Balance Patch soft-opens tomorrow (Friday, August 18), with its grand opening taking place in mid-September.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve New England Restaurants in Scenic Locations]

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Good Game Cafe May Come to the Boston Area

It looks like a "virtual reality" gaming cafe could be on its way to the Boston area later this year if things go as planned.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that East Boston resident Nick Lee is planning to open a place called Good Game Cafe, with an Indiegogo fundraising page saying that the spot would feature virtual reality games as well as food, drink, and events. A location has not been set for the proposed cafe, though the fundraising page mentions possible spots being Kenmore Square, Allston, the Back Bay, and Cambridge. Lee is hoping to raise $50,000 through Indiegogo and Kickstarter campaigns, with the money being used to purchase equipment and get a space that is preferably near a university.

Good Game Cafe could be opening around Halloween, though it may be as late as New Year's, according to the BBJ.

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Dave and Buster's Is Opening in Woburn

A chain of restaurants and video game arcades is going to be opening a second location in the Boston area, with this one being north of the city.

The Woburn Advocate is reporting that Dave & Buster's is planning to open in Woburn, with the Mishawum Road spot having nearly 50,000 square feet of space, seating for more than 800 diners, a sports bar, and 200 games. Once it opens, the new entertainment complex will join another location that opened in Braintree in late 2011.

Dave & Buster's restaurants mostly feature traditional American fare and comfort food dishes, while the arcade areas are geared a bit more toward adults than children, with Dream Raiders, Dark Escape, Temple Run, and more available.

Expect the new Dave & Buster's to open in late 2014, according to the article.

[April 9, 2015 update: A new article in the Woburn Advocate mentions that Dave and Buster's opens its Woburn location on May 26.]

The address for this new restaurant and video game spot is: Dave & Buster's, 275 Mishawum Rd Woburn, MA 01801. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.daveandbusters.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Comfort Food Items from Boston-Area Restaurants]

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Barcade (Combination Beer Bar/Arcade) Is Eyeing the Boston Area

A New York-based group of spots featuring beer and video games could be coming to the Boston area at some point.

Boston Magazine is reporting that Paul Kermizian, who is the founder and co-operator of Barcade, is considering the possibility of opening a location somewhere in Boston or possibly Cambridge or Somerville. In the article, Kermizian states that "Boston is definitely a place that's on the top of our list—not the very top—but in the next few cities we [open bars in], we would like to think of moving there" and that "We have a couple of other places in mind first, but Boston would probably be one of the next two or three after [the opening of a new location in Manhattan]."

Barcade, which first started out in Brooklyn in about nine years ago, features craft beers as well as classic arcade games. In addition to its Brooklyn location, outlets of the place can also be found in Jersey City and Philadelphia. (The Manhattan location will be on the "West Side" of the borough and should be opening sometime this year.)

Thanks to the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog for bringing this to our attention.

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