DALLAS—For Gen X-ers and millennials alike, vintage arcade bar Kung Fu Saloon has already mastered the art of resurrecting childhood memories with over 18 arcade classics, including "Centipede," "Ms. Pacman" and "NBA Jam," plus Skee-Ball and oversized Jenga. So when the venue's managing partner Nick Adams was looking to take the nostalgia to the next level, recruiting turnkey Austin-based event fabrication company Art Seen Alliance made perfect sense.
Warren McKinney, director of Art Seen Alliance, said that “Kung Fu Saloon approached us with the idea to phase out and remodel their kitchens to create themed secret bars inside their existing bars that would rotate throughout their various locations. (Kung Fu Saloon also has bearings in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Nashville.) We designed the bars in a way that is modular so they can be relocated from one location to the next.”
When guests step into the 4,200-square-foot space, they enter The Goonies screenplay and join the misfit kids of the Goon Docks in their quest to excavate the legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy’s treasure. “Patrons are immersed in an environment that transports them into the story with several vignettes recreating iconic scenes such as One-Eyed Willy’s Ship and Treasure, the Wishing Well, the attic where the map was discovered, the Bone Organ and much more,” explained McKinney.
The quirky Austin bar is currently available for private event bookings, serving craft cocktails and an eclectic pub-style menu for up to only 100 guests due to the city's COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. Think: pickle shots and cheeseburger egg rolls accompanying a team-bonding night filled with '80s-themed karaoke and foosball.