Food and Drink

See inside: Bar with retro games and ‘neon vibes’ now open in Charlotte

A pair of Ice Ball Skee-Ball arcade machines glows with vibrant pink and blue neon lights in a dark area of the establishment. The classic alley-roller games are ready for players, standing next to an ATM and other arcade cabinets.
At Foo Bar, customers will find a mix of modern and retro arcade games, including Skee Ball. Foo Bar

There’s a new arcade bar in South End Charlotte, and it promises to level up your next game night.

Foo Bar invited guests to don their best Halloween costumes ahead of its grand opening Friday night, Oct. 31, in the AvidXChange Music Factory, next door to The Comedy Zone.

The new venue promises retro arcade games, craft cocktails and neon vibes for “the ultimate mash-up of nostalgia and nightlife,” according to an Instagram post.

A wide interior shot shows a lively arcade bar with a crowd of people socializing near a central bar and high-top tables. The space features an industrial aesthetic with exposed ductwork, a wood-plank ceiling, metal support beams, and pinball machines visible in the background.
Foo Bar is now open at AvidXChange Music Factory in Charlotte, offering a full service cocktail bar in a nostalgic arcade setting. Foo Bar

Plus, there’s a costume contest at 8 p.m. with a cash prize for the funniest getup on opening night.

“Come ready to play, party, and maybe take home $500 for your hilarious costume!”

A father and young daughter are fully engaged in playing a Centipede-themed arcade game together. The girl sits on a spotted mushroom stool, while the father has a backpack on, with the bright blue machine and large screen dominating the center of the frame.
Foo Bar, a new arcade-style bar in South End Charlotte, promises “the ultimate mash-up of nostalgia and nightlife.” Foo Bar

What to expect

Foo Bar features a full-service bar with a rotating selection of local beers, plus and assortment of wines and cocktails, according to its website. Drink menus weren’t posted online, however.

A pair of Ice Ball Skee-Ball arcade machines glows with vibrant pink and blue neon lights in a dark area of the establishment. The classic alley-roller games are ready for players, standing next to an ATM and other arcade cabinets.
At Foo Bar, customers will find a mix of modern and retro arcade games, including Skee Ball. Foo Bar

Guests looking to relive their childhood days at the arcade can enjoy a dozen pinball machines alongside racing games, air hockey, Skee Ball and Guitar Hero, just to name a few. Popular games like Pac-Man Battle Royale and Street Fighter are also available.

“No sticky floors or watered-down drinks here — Foo Bar is all about keeping the vibes high and laughter heard all around,” the venue’s website says.

A comfortable lounge area features a large, curving, blue sectional sofa arranged around a circular wooden coffee table. The seating area is set on a patterned red rug and accented by hanging globe lights, exposed brick walls, and tall plants.
“With a mix of today’s latest arcade games, retro arcade games, a premium cocktail program, and dare we say, a sarcastically bougie atmosphere, Foo Bar sets itself apart from other gaming venues,” the venue’s website says. Foo Bar

All ages are welcome Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5 p.m.

The bar is 21 and up all other times, and a parent or chaperone is required for anyone under 18.

Foo Bar

Location: 900 NC Music Factory Blvd, Suite B4, Charlotte, NC 28206

Cuisine: Craft cocktails, beer and wine

Instagram: @foobarclt

Two brightly colored MotoGP motorcycle racing arcade machines stand side-by-side in the dimly lit venue. The games feature checkered platforms and glowing red and green neon accents, with the screens showing a first-person view of a racetrack.
MotoGP is one of several games customers will find at Charlotte’s new arcade-style bar, Foo Bar. Foo Bar
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This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM.

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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