Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Gastonia, NC (WNN) - Do you miss the days of arcades at the mall where you could show off your high score on a pinball machine, argue over the best character in a beat 'em up, and settle into a rail shooter with your pal? Nestled in downtown Gastonia is a haven for those seeking that experience. The CityCade Classic Arcade & Karaoke Bar has been serving up its offerings for the past six years.
On Wednesdays through Saturdays, you can enjoy nightly activities. Two of these nights are family-friendly, with children allowed at Wednesday's pinball league and Thursday's trivia night. The league is for all skill levels and consists of a seven-week series ending in a tournament. The brackets for the tournament are done through Swiss pairing. Through this, players are paired with those of similar skill level, ensuring a fair competition for everyone. For the pinball tournament, any proceeds generated are redistributed as prizes for first, second, and third place, allowing players to win a few hundred dollars each.
However, prizes are also given out during trivia night and during karaoke night on Fridays.
Trivia night begins at 8 pm and is team play. Unlike other karaoke bars, CityCade also gives out prizes for singing. Fridays and Saturdays are adult-only nights, and while Saturday doesn't have a dedicated activity, store owner Byron Smith likes to present customers with a "mixed bag" to keep everyone coming back.
Smith has been at this particular location for 16 years, originally opening it as a car stereo shop. After a decade, Smith decided to shake things up and open the arcade and bar in its place. When the shop first opened, it consisted of only retro arcade cabinets, but as time went on, claw machines, racing games, rail gun games, Dance Dance Revolution, and more were added. Smith mentioned that one of the most popular machines is the Boxer arcade machine, where patrons can test their strength to show their friends who's the boss. The retro arcade cabinets can be played for free at any time they are open, and Smith even sets the pinball machines to free play on certain nights.
Visitors can find a host of snacks not only at the bar, but also by stepping outside to the open-air outdoor lounge in front of the store, where they can visit the food trucks. One of the regular trucks visitors can expect is Chez Moi, a Haitian-American food truck that blends southern dishes with Haitian flavors. And if you head back inside, you can take a seat at the bar and order yourself one of their drinks. When asked, Smith says the most popular menu item is a cocktail called the Starburst, and patrons were quick to name Purple Rain and Key Lime Pie as some of their personal favorites.
Smith says customers can expect to find like-minded people from all backgrounds. While regular bars may have their cliques, retro gaming, trivia, and karaoke attract a diverse crowd, leading to a fun space where you can meet new people. Being in downtown Gastonia, Smith says he is proud of the improvements the town has made over the past seven to eight years and hopes to see significant growth within the next five years.
You can find The CityCade Classic Arcade & Karaoke Bar by heading to 122 S Oakland St, Gastonia, NC 28052. It is open from 6 pm to 12 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 6 pm to 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. You can also follow them on Facebook here to stay up-to-date on their upcoming events.
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