Peabody Heights Brewery is opening an arcade bar this weekend

Eddie O’Keefe has been a fan of arcades since he was a kid. So it made sense that when he took the reins at Peabody Heights Brewery in Abell, he would add some arcade games to the taproom mix.

This weekend, the brewery’s mini arcade is growing into a much bigger one. On Saturday, Peabody Heights will open The Dugout, a new space within the brewery housing dozens of games: retro offerings like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, Japanese dancing games like Dance Dance Revolution and other arcade favorites, like racing games and five pinball machines.

The Dugout is set up behind the Peabody Heights taproom, and though it’s part of the brewery, it’s also its own experience. Visitors will pay $15 on the weekends and $12 on weekdays for a wristband that gives them unlimited access to the arcade games.

O’Keefe, co-owner and vice president of the brewery, worked with Save Point Retro Gaming in Union Bridge to source the games. He sees the addition as a way to bring in a more diverse array of customers.

“I think the brewery industry is changing, and  we’re seeing a lot of breweries shut down, so this is just adding to the experience of Peabody,” O’Keefe said. “We want to create a space that’s not just for people coming out to drink beer.”

He took some inspiration from arcade bars like the North Ave. Market, which closed in 2022, but said The Dugout has its own distinct look, with LED lighting installations and swerving, colorful murals with a 1970s feel. At night, the lights dim to evoke a “futuristic Tokyo punk space.”

Children will be welcomed inside the arcade, with adult supervision, though O’Keefe is planning adults-only hours after 8 p.m. He also wants to make The Dugout accessible to people who aren’t fans of beer with new menu options like non-alcoholic beverages and a mandarin orange hard seltzer. He’s applying for a liquor license that would allow the arcade bar to serve wine and cocktails, as well.

“I think people are looking for interactive things to do around the city that are cost-affordable and can be done while enjoying a couple beers or not,” O’Keefe said.