From recognizable classics like PacMan and asteroids, to modern titles like Mario Kart and Dance Dance Revolution, to extremely rare games like Meltdown, Arcade Odyssey is offering an oasis for gamers in Kendall and South Florida.
The retro spot opened in 2011 and is one of the only surviving arcades of its kind in Miami-Dade.
“I've been collecting arcade games and arcade machines for over 30 years,” said owner Rick Medina.
Rick Medina is passionate about all things video-games related and is the brains behind the business.
“Whenever we would travel I would always go visit arcades. And I noticed that there was no arcades left down here. And there was no place really for young teenagers or young adults to and hang out but all there is really bars in South Florida,” said Rick Medina. “I thought it would be really really cool to bring it back. So I wanted to bring back something that was lost and started it in 2011."
As arcades of yesteryear have slowly disappeared, Medina is hoping they make a comeback.
"In 2016, 2017, that's when everybody started really getting back into gaming and more and more people started coming down,” said Medina.
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Medina’s vision also goes way beyond the arcade. He’s hopping to create the National Video Game History Museum. Medina has amassed an extensive collection of over 40 pinball machines, 225 to 250 game machines, over 700 motherboards and two warehouses filled with imported games.
"I believe things should be repaired and they should be built to be repaired and so I went ahead and wanted to show the history so I incorporated the National Video Game History Museum which is a 501c3. And we wanted to go ahead and start doing classes and so forth to teach the next generation,” said Medina. “In order for us to move forward, I think we have to look a little bit back and then move forward so you have a better understanding.”
Medina is eventually looking for the right space and funding to get his non-profit museum officially off the ground.
Arcade Odyssey also has a PC and console area where teens and young adults can participate in weekly tournaments. And if you’ve worked up an appetite from all that gaming, they have an assortment of Japanese snacks and they recently became a bar-cade offering bubble tea and local craft beer.
Medina hoping this pixelated nostalgia gives patrons a thumb workout while also providing a safe space to learn, connect with others and play games.
"We're trying to give a different experience. We want it to be more than an arcade. We want you to come in and try something new, taste something new and hang out with your friends and have a really unique setting and unique experience,” said Medina.
More information on Arcade Odyssey, click here.
