Nostalgia And Technology Merge In New Havasu Entertainment Venue – River Scene Magazine

By Becky Maxedon

When five Lake Havasu City Midwest entrepreneurial transplants came together, the Field of Dreams axiom If you build it, they will come seemed like a natural mantra for their new endeavor.

The groups vision of a different kind of adult entertainment for Havasu has taken form and will be revealed to the public Tuesday at noon.

Glitch Barcadium is the brainchild of Justin Bechen, his twin brother Jason Bechen, Corey Wilcox, Kevin Wright and Devon Garrett.

Justin Bechen, originally from Dubuque, Iowa, said his parents bought a house in Lake Havasu City seven years ago and he and his brother, Jason, would come out when the Midwest winter freeze made the sunshine and backyard pool look pretty good. Three years ago, the twins relocated to Havasu and eventually hooked up with Wilcox, Wright and Garrett and the plans moved forward.

Wright said, When I moved to Havasu from the Midwest, I already had seen some popular arcade bars. I was kind of there during the big boom of pinballs return in the Midwest. So it dawned on me with a buddy back in the Missouri that an arcade bar should be something we should do but it never happened.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Wright said when he moved to Havasu, he met Corey Wilcox and theyve been friends now for seven years.

This was an idea we had been tossing around so about two and a half years ago, we started taking it serious and started looking around at concepts, ideas, locations and then one day, we happened to be at another bar where the twins were working and had overheard that they kind of had the same idea.

One day we just decided were going to meet up and see how this goes. We go to lunch and the next thing you know were filing for an LLC and here we go. No guts no glory throw caution to the wind, he said.

And after only 90 days, the dream is about to become a reality.

The town was just asking for something new that wasnt music and a few hours in the evening. Nothing wrong with live music but the town needs a new type of entertainment, Justin Bechen said.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

If they wanted to go out on a date, have a drink and do something other than sit there and drink, they now have an outlet where they can do that. It doesnt matter If they come in when we open at noon or 10 oclock at night, they come in have a drink, play pinball have a little bit of fun and socialize in a different type of way that Havasu hasnt had, he said.

I dont drink, so for me when I go to a bar there isnt anything for me to do. So here we have something for people that dont drink. People have been asking if were going to have NA beer. Of course. Everyone can have fun. The designated driver can have fun too.

We were looking for something that was a little nostalgic. This touches all the bases for me. I grew up in the arcades. Im in my 40s, so this was around when I was growing up. You went to the malls back in the Midwest in the wintertime with your friends and you hung out at the token arcades, he said.

The group agrees the concept brings together people of all ages. Todays 21-year-olds grew up pushing buttons and gaming and older generations can enjoy the nostalgia of the pinball machines and games that span the decades.

Theres an energy from being around this stuff. I had a 70-year-old guy walk in with his buddy before we opened, and he wanted to play pinball. He offered me $20 just to come in to play.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

I told him to give us a couple more days. Were getting close! Weve tried to hit every base from the guys my age to the guy that just hit his 21st birthday. Weve got something for everyone, Justin Bechen said.

Glitch will open with six pinball machines vintage and new, 19 arcade cabinets, cocktail games and pedestal games, four-player games like Teenage Mutant Ninjas and The Simpsons. They will have old-school fighter games and sports games like NFL Blitz and NBA Hangtime along with Mortal Combat and more. Other games include offroad racing games, Daytona 2, NASCAR, and Big Buck Hunter. The plan is to continue adding games so they can be rotated in and out to keep the entertainment fresh. All games will be operated with tokens that have been custom made call Glitch Coins.

The group found games by scouring the Internet, contacting collectors and dealers.

The bathrooms are unique and part of the entertainment value of Glitch. They are Super Mario Brothers inspired. The guys bathroom is wrapped with a Super Mario Brothers theme and we have a Mario Brothers theme in the womens bathroom but its a little more princess.

One of the Glitch bathrooms wrapped by Tekwrap in a Super Mario Bros. theme at Glitch. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Everybody has such great, creative ideas. No bad days in Havasu no bad plays in Havasu.

This is literally our passion. I came from a bar family two generations. These guys come from a bar background. Were doing this for the community. If we make money on the way, thats great but we want to see people having a great time. Something new in Havasu. And were definitely feeling that energy from everyone and each other at the same time, Justin Bechen said.

There is no food service, but Glitch patrons will be able to order food from the Mustard Seed and have it delivered to their table.

The group agreed that Glitch will get people away from the online atmosphere and bring people together around a common idea.

Glitch Barcadium will open Tuesday and will host a grand opening at a later date, possibly in March.

Glitch Barcadium is located at 44 Mulberry Ave. Hours of operation are noon to midnight, Monday through Sunday.

Jason and Justin Bechen pose for a photo behind the bar at Glitch during their soft opening Saturday night. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Arcade games are ready to be played at Glitch. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Heather Pace plays the Simpsons arcade game at Glitch during the soft opening. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

The partners of Glitch Barcadium. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

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Nostalgia And Technology Merge In New Havasu Entertainment Venue - River Scene Magazine