CLEVELAND, Ohio – Delayed more than two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar and Arcade are now nearing their opening date at the end of the month.
The space at 1880 W. 25th St. fills more than 20,000 square feet with various games like duckpin bowling, pinball, bocce ball, arcade games, video games and more.
Developer Chad Kertesz, on a recent tour of the space, summed it up easily: “House of fun.”
Kertesz, the president of My Place Group, bought the property, which originally housed Daniels Furniture, through an LLC for $2.3 million in 2020. After considering various interested tenants, My Place landed on Columbus-based Rise Brands’ Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar.
Originally, the two businesses were slated to open in the summer of 2020. The pandemic delayed construction, though. Kertesz said that the project didn’t break ground until summer 2021.
“We worked with the tenant for a number of reasons,” Kertesz said. “They didn’t create the situation that happened, that affected and still affects the retail and restaurant industry heavily. As a group, we thought, how can we both work together and weather the storm and stay on task and stay on target? Obviously, no one had a magic wand to know when the pandemic would end, but we knew it couldn’t last forever.”
My Place Group owns several other retail and commercial spaces in Ohio City, including the buildings that house Mediterranean restaurant Alea, used clothing store Avalon Exchange and tech hub The Hive. The organization also owns several apartment buildings, including Clinton West, Mariner’s Watch, Clinton Suites and the recently-opened 41 West CLE.
Despite the delays, Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar and Arcade are ready to open at the end of the month. Kertesz said the two businesses should be up and running in the last week of March.
When that happens, the two brands, housed in one unique storefront, will be one of the biggest attractions in Ohio City, with around 100 staffers employed, Kertesz said.
“I’m pretty sure this is the largest storefront and single business on West 25th,” Kertesz said. “It’s bigger than Town Hall. It’s bigger than Market Garden. It’s bigger than Bar Cento. It’s a pretty substantially sized tenant in the neighborhood.”
Renovations have dramatically transformed and opened the space, which Kertesz said hadn’t been too updated in the past few decades. The basement, formerly used for storage, has become a 12-lane duckpin bowling center, with a pinball wing to the side. A new staircase and opening lead into the basement, with a new skylight bringing plenty of sunlight into the first and subfloor.
On the first floor, bocce ball is available to play at one end of the room, with nostalgic arcade games and skeeball taking over one side of the space. Nostalgic murals and artwork adorn the walls of the space. TVs and gaming systems will offer modern games, too.
Other locations that combine Pins and 16-Bit (such as in Nashville, Charlotte and Cincinnati) charge for games of duckpin bowling, ping pong and foosball -- but allow customers to play arcade games and gaming consoles for free.
Cleveland’s new location for Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar and Arcade follows the closure of 16-Bit’s Lakewood location in 2021. Before it closed its Lakewood spot, the concept had originally planned to keep it running alongside the Ohio City facility. Now, the shared 16-Bit and Pins Mechanical spot in Ohio City will be the only Northeast Ohio location for either brand.
In Ohio City, the two concepts, housed under the same roof, are bound to become a destination in the neighborhood, the landlords said.
“I think with Ohio City, it’s such a walkable neighborhood, and it’s such a mix. You have your empty nesters, you have the millennials, there’s even a strong Ohio City mom’s group, where we’re always reaching out to one another asking, ‘Hey, what can we do with our kids or where can we take them?’” said Svetalana Kertesz, the chief operating officer of My Place Group. “I think it just gives them more things to do, and then the same with the residents that live here, it just gives them something else to do right in their own neighborhood.”
Svetlana and Chad Kertesz, who are married, said they’re excited for their two young daughters to enjoy Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar and Arcade. Though the space will operate as a bar, the two brands will also cater to families with smoothies and other kid-friendly beverages.
Plenty of drinks will be on the menu inside Pins and 16-Bit, but the space will offer only a limited food menu. Instead, customers will be encouraged to bring in food from home or from neighboring businesses.
“I’m just excited to come here with my girls and get them a fun, frozen smoothie or kid drink, and just have them have the best day ever,” Svetlana said. “Just picturing them running around and really enjoying it – my favorite thing will be seeing our girls smile.”
Whether families want to enjoy the many games at Pins and 16-Bit, or locals are looking for a fun night out, the space’s opening marks a bright spot after two years of challenges from the pandemic.
“Everybody’s been isolated for the last two years now and this is a huge opportunity to bring people back together,” Chad said. “Get them all excited, get them all to have fun and really have a positive come out of this whole mess.”
Find more information about Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar and Arcade at 16-bitbar.com.
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