PEORIA MAGAZINE September 2023

Maurice Whatley (left) and Morris Shields play Street Fighter II at 8 Bit Arcade Bar in Peoria. They’ve been playing video games together since their childhoods on the South Side of Chicago

Jason Pacey is the owner of 8 Bit Arcade Bar at 619 SW Water Street.

Peoria residents grew up in the same neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, feeding quarters into gaming machines at a local arcade. On a recent afternoon at 8 Bit, they battled on Street Fighter II, from 1991. “It reminds me of my childhood,” Whatley said. Shields said today’s video games boast spectacular graphics but can get com plex. He prefers vintage games. “On PlayStation, they get complicat ed,” said Shields with a laugh. The friends no longer have to pack quarters to play — at least, not at 8 Bit. All video games there are free. Perhaps that’s why even 20-somethings, who grew up after the explosion of home gaming systems, flock to 8 Bit. “Even if you’re not good at it, free’s definitely a good benefit,” said Pacey. For the owner, there’s only one down side to the games: the constant repairs. He and his five employees often figure out fixes by trial and error. For old parts, he searches online or cannibalizes the busted games that fill his garage. “There’s always two or three or four (games) that we’re always hunting parts for,” he said. Even amid all the throwbacks, there’s a new throwback: Skee-Ball. These new machines are the only non-free game

offerings at 8 Bit. Pacey is thinking about starting a Skee-Ball league, as the game continues a strong resurgence. ANOTHER LURE AT 8 BIT: BEER … BRANDS UNAVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN PEORIA “We’re the third place in Peoria that has Skee-Ball right now,” he said. “So, it’s definitely coming back.” Beside all the games, there’s another lure at 8 Bit: beer. In addition to vintage and popular suds, 8 Bit specializes in brands unavailable elsewhere in Peo ria, bought mostly from breweries and stores in and around Chicago. “We have the largest selection of craft beer in the area, by far,” Pacey said. So far, the new place has proved a success. More than ever, Pacey loves his job. “I’m surrounded by two things I like: video games and beer,” he said.

‘PEOPLE LOVE REMINISCING ABOUT BACK IN THE DAY’

— Jason Pacey

“Here, you can definitely move around,” Pacey said. “Bigger bar, a lot more games, a lot more everything.” PAC-MAN, LONG MAY HE PRESIDE The new space includes 20 additional gaming cabinets, bringing the total to 55. Favorites depend on age: customers who grew up in the ‘80s prefer Pac-Man and Asteroids, while ‘90s kids gravitate to NFL Blitz and Mortal Kombat. “It’s your childhood, you know,” Pacey said. “People love reminiscing about back in the day.” That’s what brings in Morris Shields, 44, and Maurice Whatley, 45. The

Phil Luciano is a senior writer/columnist for Peoria Magazine and content contributor to public television station WTVP. He can be reached at phil.luciano@wtvp.org

SEPTEMBER 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 13