STIX Arcade Bar (est. Feb. 2020), the retro video game bar in Downtown Champaign, is opening back up their doors after a 2-month hiatus from the December 12, 2021 shooting.
Owners Justin Taylor, founder of JT Walker’s Restaurant & Brewery and Project 47 in Mahomet, and Wayne Lam, founder of 83 Vietnamese in Champaign, are the masterminds behind the creation of what is STIX and are ready to get their pinballs rolling again.
During the end of last year, Downtown Champaign was experiencing a rise in crime and violence. Unfortunately, STIX was affected by this after a shooting nearby on December 12th, causing supporters of the establishment to wait an indefinite amount of time for the city’s approval to allow STIX a re-opening. Taylor and Lam contacted and met with the city countless times only to be faced with extensions of the shutdown and lack of communication, despite the promise to be able to re-open as soon as the new year. However, Taylor and Lam kept their heads held high thanks to their staff and supporters.
“2022 is going to be our year!” says Lam. Taylor and Lam opened STIX a month prior to the beginning of the 2020 COVID pandemic, so 2020 and 2021 are known to have been the most complex years for STIX as a business. The experience with operating STIX is nothing alike of their other respective ventures.
Taylor explains “We as STIX plan on being involved within the community now that local events are resuming. Street fairs, festivals, parades, you will proudly see us there. We are excited to put STIX back on the map.” Taylor is enthusiastic about STIX’s involvement with the local food, drink, and entertainment communities and hopes to share his and Lam’s passion of combining gaming and leisure.
STIX welcomes both Parkland and U of I students. Whether newbie or veteran to gaming, STIX wants you to establish and settle your gameplay here. You can enjoy both retro and modern games with game-inspired drinks: popular signature cocktails include: Princess Peach, Sonic, Donkey Kong, Miss Pac Man, TMNT, and much more!
For 2022, STIX’s staff are teaming up together to create events for the local college student who games for fun or the competitive collegiate esports athlete: from Super Smash Bros tournaments to Mario Party… parties. Along with gaming events, STIX is combining pop culture and music. You will see Johnny Bravo for Rock and Roll nights, Speedy Gonzalez for Latin nights, or Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi for J-Pop nights. Staff members are passionate about their gaming and pop culture and will be curating a handful of events you will not want to miss!
STIX Arcade Bar is a 21+ establishment. However, check on STIX’s Facebook and Instagram for future upcoming events suitable for all ages!
