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In my opinion, when you mix video games with good drinks, it makes for a great time. That is exactly what Up-Down arcade had in mind when they opened up in the East Village about five years ago. 

Up-Down is a bar for retro ‘80s and ‘90s arcade games. The arcade bar expanded in December, and the bar now occupies two floors. This expansion allows for more space, more games, more drinks, a selection of pizza and overall more fun!

 Up-Down bartender Hunter Connelly describes the bar as “a Chuck E. Cheese for adults, but much cheaper than Dave and Buster’s.” 

 “The expansion brought in a lot more foot traffic, which is great for business,” Connelly said. 

 Changes with the expansion allowed Up-Down to grow its collection of games to over 80. They have new neon lights, new bathrooms and more artwork. The upstairs offers 10 more beers on tap. 

According to Connelly, Up-Down has been a popular place in Des Moines for years now. Although they cater people who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the bar is fun for anyone who loves food, games and good drinks. Connelly said that one of the most significant changes to the bar was the addition of pizza. Not only is it made from scratch every day, but it is priced well, and there are a wide variety of toppings to choose from. 

Connelly also noted that now that they have expanded to the ground level from the basement, people from the outside see the neon lights and wonder what’s inside. Prior to the expansion, the signage wasn’t adequate, and when locals would come in, they would tell Connelly they had never heard of the place. According to Connelly, the other Up-Down locations in the Midwest (Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis) all have two floors. There used to be a store located right above the bar, but that store ended up moving elsewhere, and the owner took that as a perfect opportunity to finally grow business and for the bar to match the other locations. 

When I visited Up-Down, I tried a margarita. Although it was good, it was a little too sweet for my liking. Then I made my way to the basement and found a Nintendo 64 station where you can play with up to four people. That was cool for me because my siblings and I used to play the N64 a lot growing up; it was like a blast from the past.

What makes Up-Down different from other arcade bars is that they use the method of tokens instead of loading points onto a card. 

 “Using tokens gives you more of a classic feel because that’s how you’d play the games back in the day,” Connelly said. 

Up-Down’s environment and overall vibe is contagious and keeps people coming back for more. Two of those people include Jake Earp and Danielle Shearer. The couple comes to Up-Down frequently and have been for quite some time now, even before the expansion. So what keeps the game-lovers coming back to Up-Down? 

“The atmosphere,” Earp said. “We are not big drinkers; we don’t just like to sit at a bar and drink. We love that we can get up and walk around and play different games. It is the nostalgia and comfortable feel of the place that really gets me.” 

Shearer said she loves the bar because it is “a cheap and fun form of entertainment,” and she adds that, “sometimes we don’t even drink; we just play games.” 

The expansion was huge for the couple because now their regular hangout spot doubled in fun. Shearer said she loves that fact that there is “a more attractive look to it now. There is more space and room to breathe.” Earp’s favorite part about the expansion is that there are “more games, good pizza, and it has the same aesthetic but has a more modern feel to it with a bigger selection of beer as well.” 

The couple adds that now bringing their friends from out of town into Up-Down will be even more exciting because there is more to do now. 

After visiting Up-Down, having a drink and playing a few of the games myself, I can say confidently that this bar is a perfect hangout for any college student looking to unwind from the stress of school.