A new arcade bar with classic games & pinball is opening soon in Raleigh
Steve Olson has made a career in the fitness industry. His next entrepreneurial venture puts fun first.
Olson, who has spent years training collegiate and professional athletes and has opened three gyms in the Triangle, is preparing to open a new arcade bar in Raleigh — Super Rad Retro Lounge.
He’s anticipating a June 2025 opening for the venue at 106 Glenwood Ave. in downtown Raleigh, Olson told The News & Observer over the phone. Construction is expected to begin soon to transform the former Mojito Lounge into a 2,300-square-foot arcade bar.
When the initial buildout is complete, artwork added, lighting installed and decor placed, the bar will hold a range of games from Olson’s collection:
- classic arcade games — many of them from the 1980s and 1990s
- pinball from the 1990s and early 2000s
- a pool table
- console games
- air hockey tables (Olson is a competitive air hockey player, and yes, “it’s actually a thing.”)
There won’t be any food, but visitors can imbibe draft, canned and bottled beers, cocktails, shots, THC-infused beverages and nonalcoholic cocktails and drinks.
Olson said the bar will host programs such as pinball and air hockey tournaments and be available for private parties and corporate events.
This is the latest arcade bar concept for downtown Raleigh. Pins Mechanical Co. is expected to open its third North Carolina location in a 27,000-square-foot space in Seaboard Station this year, The N&O previously reported. These two concepts will join Boxcar Bar + Arcade on West Davie St.; Boxcar also has locations in Durham and Greensboro.
From gains to games
Olson has a degree in exercise science from Florida Atlantic University, where he also worked as a graduate assistant, helping coach student athletes. He also worked at a private facility in Fort Lauderdale, where he trained NFL, NFL Scouting Combine and youth athletes for a couple of years.
Then in 2017, he opened his first gym, Archetype Strength, which now has three locations across Raleigh and Morrisville.
But a few years ago, nearing his 40th birthday, Olson decided to try something new, he said.
“I’ve always loved games,” he said. Growing up, he played “endlessly” and frequented arcades, where he dabbled in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and Mortal Kombat.
He started purchasing and fixing old games, restoring them to their former glory. In 2022, he put pinball games he had restored in locations such as Bond Brothers Beer Co. in Cary.
Olson decided to combine his love of gaming with the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge he had gathered through gym ownership and pursue opening his own bar and arcade.
Finding a location was more difficult than he expected, he said, and ended up touring about two dozen places before he came across the Glenwood Avenue spot. It had sufficient foot traffic and was surrounded by adult entertainment establishments that cater to a “slightly more mature” crowd.
“We’re pretty excited to be a part of that,” Olson said.
This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 10:44 AM with the headline "A new arcade bar with classic games & pinball is opening soon in Raleigh."
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly wrote the name of Super Rad Retro Lounge.
