DraftCade is an arcade-and-bar concept that recently opened at Short Pump Town Center. (Photos courtesy of DraftCade)
It’s game time for DraftCade, a new entertainment venue in Short Pump Town Center by the owners of Funny Bone Comedy Club.
The bar-and-arcade concept opened in late January in the mall next to Funny Bone.
The arcade features more than 60 arcade machines and 10 pinball machines, as well as six skee-ball lanes, video game consoles and other games. True to its name, Draftcade also features 60 beers on tap in addition to a food menu with offerings like sandwiches, fried chicken and desserts.
It’s the third location for the concept, which is operated by Todd Leinenbach and Blake Blessinger, the owners behind Funny Bone and 18 other comedy clubs. The first DraftCade opened in 2017 in Kansas City, and there’s also a location in Toledo.
“It’s done amazing. Not only with the comedy club but basically as a standalone too,” Leinenbach said in an interview last week. “It’s just been amazing with families and kids. We didn’t think when we did it (that) it would be that big a deal with young kids.”
Arcade-goers pay for a $10 wristband that provides unlimited access to the games. The venue is restricted after 7 p.m. to people 21 and older.
DraftCade features arcade machines, pinball machines and other games.
“There’s no tokens. There’s just the wristband and you press play,” Leinenbach said.
The unveiling of DraftCade preceded the reopening of Funny Bone on Friday after a renovation at the club, which first opened at the mall in 2003. The renovation increased the club’s seating from 275 to 400.
Leinenbach, who was also the general contractor for the job, said the project wasn’t immune to recent global supply-chain issues, and everything from building materials to furniture were a challenge to line up.
“It was one of the hardest ones I ever did. I couldn’t get concrete for a month,” he said. “I ordered furniture back in May and we got it Jan. 5.”
Taken together, DraftCade and Funny Bone occupy about 15,000 square feet at the mall. The DraftCade space was formerly home to an outpost of the Children’s Museum of Richmond.
Another recent arrival to the mall is skincare retailer L’Occitane, which moved in after closing its Stony Point Fashion Park location.
DraftCade is an arcade-and-bar concept that recently opened at Short Pump Town Center. (Photos courtesy of DraftCade)
It’s game time for DraftCade, a new entertainment venue in Short Pump Town Center by the owners of Funny Bone Comedy Club.
The bar-and-arcade concept opened in late January in the mall next to Funny Bone.
The arcade features more than 60 arcade machines and 10 pinball machines, as well as six skee-ball lanes, video game consoles and other games. True to its name, Draftcade also features 60 beers on tap in addition to a food menu with offerings like sandwiches, fried chicken and desserts.
It’s the third location for the concept, which is operated by Todd Leinenbach and Blake Blessinger, the owners behind Funny Bone and 18 other comedy clubs. The first DraftCade opened in 2017 in Kansas City, and there’s also a location in Toledo.
“It’s done amazing. Not only with the comedy club but basically as a standalone too,” Leinenbach said in an interview last week. “It’s just been amazing with families and kids. We didn’t think when we did it (that) it would be that big a deal with young kids.”
Arcade-goers pay for a $10 wristband that provides unlimited access to the games. The venue is restricted after 7 p.m. to people 21 and older.
DraftCade features arcade machines, pinball machines and other games.
“There’s no tokens. There’s just the wristband and you press play,” Leinenbach said.
The unveiling of DraftCade preceded the reopening of Funny Bone on Friday after a renovation at the club, which first opened at the mall in 2003. The renovation increased the club’s seating from 275 to 400.
Leinenbach, who was also the general contractor for the job, said the project wasn’t immune to recent global supply-chain issues, and everything from building materials to furniture were a challenge to line up.
“It was one of the hardest ones I ever did. I couldn’t get concrete for a month,” he said. “I ordered furniture back in May and we got it Jan. 5.”
Taken together, DraftCade and Funny Bone occupy about 15,000 square feet at the mall. The DraftCade space was formerly home to an outpost of the Children’s Museum of Richmond.
Another recent arrival to the mall is skincare retailer L’Occitane, which moved in after closing its Stony Point Fashion Park location.
Additional entertainment venues are a good fit at Short Pump Town Center. I wouldn’t be surprised to find additional entertainment space added at the former Nordstrom location.
I wish these folks the best of luck in their venture. I hope they have contracted with someone who can maintain these games well, that is always the biggest issue with operating any sort of arcade. More pinball in Richmond is a good thing. For those who want to take that to the next level, check out the Richmond Pinball Collective on Midlothian Turnpike. It’s a private club, but open for membership and perhaps the best collection of pinball under one roof in the state of Virginia.