# 2019 FALL ARCADE ROAD TRIP, Stop 2: Crabtowne 🦀 USA - Glen Burnie, MD (October 2019)

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2019-10-01  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/2019-fall-arcade-road-trip-stop-2-crabtowne-usa-glen-burnie-md-october-2019

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## Analysis

A travel article documenting Crabtowne USA, a seafood restaurant with an integrated arcade in Glen Burnie, Maryland, featuring approximately 60% arcade games and 40% pinball machines. The venue houses a mix of classic and modern pinball titles alongside a full bar and restaurant, with games in playable but not museum-quality condition and competitive pricing ($0.25–$0.75 per play).

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Crabtowne USA contains approximately 33 pinball machines spanning from 1975 to 2018, mixed with arcade cabinets — _Comprehensive machine list provided by Pinball Map; specific game titles and years documented_
- [MEDIUM] Game mix at Crabtowne is approximately 60% arcade games, 40% pinball machines — _Author's visual assessment stated as estimate, not measured data_
- [HIGH] Games at Crabtowne are in playable condition but not museum-quality; machines show wear and some mechanical issues — _Explicit author observation: 'If you are extremely picky and need games to be in mint condition, Crabtowne probably is not for you'; noted Deadpool missing head but playing well_
- [HIGH] Pricing at Crabtowne ranges from $0.25 for two plays on older machines to $0.75 on newer Stern machines, with most games at $0.50 — _Author explicitly stated pricing tiers observed during visit_
- [HIGH] Crabtowne has a liquor license and serves beer at promotional prices ($2.50 draft during happy hour) — _Direct author experience documented in October 2019 visit_

### Notable Quotes

> "Tasty seafood and arcade games. Yes please!"
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Opening statement establishing the venue's dual appeal and author's enthusiasm_

> "If you are extremely picky and need games to be in mint condition, Crabtowne probably is not for you. It definitely is not a museum."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Sets clear expectation management about condition standards; defines venue as casual play space rather than collector-focused_

> "The games had big lock bars drilled into them. They there are meant to be played and they get a lot of traffic."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Explains why games show wear; emphasizes commercial operator perspective prioritizing play frequency over preservation_

> "For example, Lil Deadpool's head was missing on the Stern pin, but the game still played great."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Concrete example of cosmetic damage that does not impair gameplay; illustrates author's tolerance for casual arcade condition standards_

> "If I can play games in one room and buy beer and delicious food in the next I'm willing to be a lot more forgiving on minor issues with games."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Articulates the venue integration strategy that compensates for non-museum condition; explains why casual venues with food/beverage succeed despite wear_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Crabtowne USA | organization | Seafood restaurant with integrated arcade in Glen Burnie, Maryland; operates 33+ pinball machines and arcade cabinets |
| Glen Burnie | location | Maryland city where Crabtowne USA is located |
| MOMs Organic | organization | Stop 1 of arcade road trip; grocery store with arcade (mentioned for comparison, described as exclusively mint pinball machines) |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Content source; operator of arcade road trip blog/documentation |
| Pinball Map | organization | Community resource that provided the machine inventory list for Crabtowne USA |
| Stern | company | Pinball manufacturer; represented by multiple machines at Crabtowne (Beatles, Deadpool Pro, Ghostbusters Pro, Star Wars Pro, Harley-Davidson, etc.) |
| Williams | company | Pinball manufacturer; represented by machines at Crabtowne (Cyclone, Johnny Mnemonic, High Speed, PIN-BOT, etc.) |
| Bally | company | Pinball manufacturer; largest representation at Crabtowne (Addams Family, Freedom, Twilight Zone, etc.) |
| Data East | company | Pinball manufacturer; represented by The Simpsons at Crabtowne |
| Sega | company | Arcade/pinball manufacturer; represented by Twister at Crabtowne |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Casual/location arcade venue operations and condition standards, Integration of pinball machines with food/beverage venues, Pinball machine inventory and game mix at commercial locations
- **Secondary:** Pricing models for commercial pinball and arcade play, Regional arcade venue documentation and travel, Comparison between museum-quality vs casual play arcades

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Author expresses clear enthusiasm for venue, appreciates the casual atmosphere, abundant game selection, food/beverage integration, and competitive pricing. Only mild criticism regarding condition standards, which author frames as acceptable given context. Concludes with unqualified recommendation.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Crabtowne USA successfully operates integrated food/beverage/arcade model with 33+ machines generating revenue despite non-museum-quality condition standards (confidence: high) — Venue maintains active machine fleet with significant traffic; author notes commercial operator prioritization of play frequency over preservation; pricing model ($0.25–$0.75) suggests healthy utilization
- **[community_signal]** Knapp Arcade's arcade road trip content series documents regional pinball and arcade venues, contributing to community knowledge base and tourism discovery (confidence: high) — Multi-stop road trip format with detailed venue documentation and machine inventories published
- **[market_signal]** Pricing at casual location venue ($0.25–$0.75 per play) indicates regional variance in commercial pinball economics; older machines command lower prices than modern Stern titles (confidence: high) — Detailed pricing breakdown: Freedom (Bally 1975) at $0.25 for two plays, newer Sterns at $0.75, typical rate $0.50

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## Transcript

As if the arcade in a grocery store at Stop 1 of the trip wasn’t surprising enough, Stop 2 brings us to a huge arcade inside an excellent seafood restaurant... Crabtowne USA.

Tasty seafood and arcade games. Yes please! Unlike MOMs Organic, which consisted almost exclusively of mint pinball machines, Crabtowne has a large selection of both vids and pins. The mix is probably 60% arcade games, 40% pinball machines.

If you are extremely picky and need games to be in mint condition, Crabtowne probably is not for you. It definitely is not a museum. The games had big lock bars drilled into them. They there are meant to be played and they get a lot of traffic. Some of the monitors need cap kits, some of the pins had minor issues or wear but most games played fairly well. For example, Lil Deadpool’s head was missing on the Stern pin, but the game still played great. There’s was so many games to choose from that there was TONS of fun to be had.

The arcade game selection was deep and included all of the classics...Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Punch Out, drivers, shooters just about anything you could want.

This arcade has a liquor license and a fantastic seafood restaurant. I was drinking $2.50 Nattly Bo drafts during Happy Hour. Two fifty! And the crab cakes were outstanding. If I can play games in one room and buy beer and delicious food in the next I’m willing to be a lot more forgiving on minor issues with games.

The row of newer Stern pinball machines played perfectly. As did fun older pins that I’ve never really played before, such as Harley-Davidson, Johnny Mnemonic and Bally Freedom. The prices varied from $0.25 for two plays on Freedom to $0.75 on the newer Sterns. Most games were $0.50.

Here’s a list of the pinball machines at Crabtowne courtesy of Pinball Map:

The Addams Family (Bally, 1992)

Baby Pac-Man (Bally, 1982)

Beatles (Stern, 2018)

Big Guns (Williams, 1987)

Black Knight 2000 (Williams, 1989)

Cyclone (Williams, 1988)

Deadpool (Pro) (Stern, 2018)

Dirty Harry (Williams, 1995)

Dr. Dude (Bally, 1990)

Eight Ball Deluxe (Bally, 1981)

Fish Tales (Williams, 1992)

Flight 2000 (Stern, 1980)

Freedom (Bally, 1975)

Ghostbusters (Pro) (Stern, 2016)

Harley-Davidson (2nd Edition) (Stern, 2002)

High Speed (Williams, 1986)

Johnny Mnemonic (Williams, 1995)

Jokerz (Williams, 1988)

Kiss (Bally, 1978)

Kiss (Stern, 2015)

Old Chicago (Bally, 1975)

PIN-BOT (Williams, 1986)

The Party Zone (Bally, 1991)

Playboy (Bally, 1978)

Pool Sharks (Bally, 1990)

Rollergames (Williams, 1990)

The Simpsons (Data East, 1990)

Star Wars (Pro) (Stern, 2017)

Stars (Stern, 1978)

Strikes and Spares (Bally, 1977)

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Stern, 2003)

Twilight Zone (Bally, 1993)

Twister (Sega, 1996)

World Cup Soccer (Bally, 1994)

Crabtowne had lots of character and a very festive atmosphere. If you’re in Maryland near Glen Burnie it’s absolutely worth stopping by.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 2a0dc02b-c206-4d25-b017-b2db55c4ea25*