Popular Portland, Maine Arcade-Bar Celebrates 10 Years of Fun and Games

In 2014, a unique bar and arcade opened up on Preble Street in Portland, Maine, and it has grown into something amazing over the past 10 years.

Arcadia opened on September 4, 2014, as Arcadia National Bar, a play on words of the famous Acadia National Park. It was owned by Dave Aceto and Ben Culver and was in a small space on Preble Street by Dave Aceto and Ben Culver. It was a space where people could come and play pinball, classic arcade games, and console video games on a PS3 and Nintendo Wii, and board and card games like Settlers of Katan. It also had a bar and a small kitchen.

Here's a video I took of Dave and Ben just before their grand opening 10 years ago talking about what people could expect from Arcadia National Bar.

When the pandemic hit, Arcadia National Bar moved to the former Port City Music Hall on Congress Street. The "National Bar" title was dropped and it simply became "Arcadia."

The space was much bigger and included two floors of gaming, a large bar, a kitchen that makes some awesome pizza, and the ability to hold events and live DJs regularly. But opening the new Arcadia was a challenge with the pandemic.

Eventually things came around and the new Arcadia opened to the public.

Dave Aceto posts a thank you to many people who made and still make Arcadia what it is today.