Cobra Arcade Bar traces its origins to co-founder Ari Bracamonte, who began restoring old arcade games and staging pop-up arcade shows under the name “Artcade.” These events filled vacant spaces with his game collection alongside local artists, musicians, and drinks — creating a nostalgic, community-driven atmosphere that resonated with people from all walks of life. The idea to open a dedicated arcade bar featuring vintage games had been on Bracamonte’s mind since 2012, though early attempts were derailed by poor business relationships and city-zoning hurdles. His fortunes changed when he partnered with adaptive reuse developer Chuckie Duff and the local restaurant and entertainment firm Genuine Concepts — the team behind notable Phoenix venues like Crescent Ballroom and The Vig.
The Phoenix location officially opened in January 2016 in the Roosevelt Row Arts District of Downtown Phoenix, and the concept quickly proved successful. In June 2018, Cobra expanded with a second location at 63 E. Congress St. in downtown Tucson, spanning 5,000 square feet across two levels and featuring more than 50 arcade games and pinball machines — including classics like Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, Galaga, and Frogger. Today, Cobra Arcade Bar operates as a 21+ establishment across both Phoenix and Tucson, stocking over 200 vintage arcade games between its locations.
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