# RECBAR 812 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2020-02-11 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2020/02/11/recbar-812 --- ## Analysis Pinball News reviews Recbar 812, a massive new arcade bar satellite location opened by Louisville's Recbar in New Albany, Indiana in February 2020. The venue features approximately 80 pinball machines, extensive classic arcade games, food, drinks, and retro-themed decor across two floors, including a notable Hercules (Atari 1979) machine—one of ten known working units. The facility combines family-friendly daytime hours with adult evening service and appeals to multigenerational audiences. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Recbar 812 is twice the square footage of the original Recbar location in Jeffersontown, KY — _Direct statement from venue representatives in review_ - [HIGH] Recbar 812 features about 80 pinball machines — _Explicitly stated in venue description_ - [MEDIUM] Hercules is the largest pinball machine ever made, with only ten known to be in working order for public use — _Article states this as contextual information about the featured machine_ - [MEDIUM] Recbar 812 boasts one of the biggest pinball collections available to the public under one roof in North America — _Venue claim, not independently verified in article_ - [HIGH] The venue switches from all-ages to 21+ at 10 pm — _Stated in venue operational description_ ### Notable Quotes > "The best way to describe it is a Dave and Busters on steroids." > — **Pinball News reviewer**, N/A > _Conveys the massive scale and game-focused nature of the venue_ > "The pictures in this review do not do it justice." > — **Pinball News reviewer**, N/A > _Emphasizes the venue's impressive physical scale_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Recbar 812 | location | New satellite arcade bar location in New Albany, Indiana; opened February 2020; approximately 80 pinball machines and extensive arcade collection | | Recbar | organization | Original arcade bar in Jeffersontown, Kentucky (opened 2016); operates Recbar 812 as satellite location | | Hercules | product | Atari pinball machine from 1979; claimed to be the largest pinball machine ever made; one of ten known working units in public use; featured at Recbar 812 | | New Albany, IN | location | Location of Recbar 812 at 336 Pearl St | | Braylyn 'Resko' Stewart | person | Local artist who created wall murals at Recbar 812 featuring Mario Kart, Back to the Future, and other retro pop culture imagery | | Louisville, KY metro area | location | Geographic region where Recbar operates original and satellite locations | ### Topics - **Primary:** Arcade bar venue design and operations, Pinball machine collections and curation, Retro gaming and nostalgia-driven entertainment - **Secondary:** Multigenerational gaming appeal, Vintage pinball machine rarity (Hercules), Food and beverage operations in gaming venues ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Review is enthusiastically favorable, highlighting the venue's scale, pinball collection quality, diverse arcade offerings, thematic design, and multigenerational appeal. Minor note of limited personal experience due to timing constraints, but locals provided positive feedback. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Multigenerational gaming venue design indicates sustained market demand for retro gaming experiences (confidence: high) — Article notes adults over fifty bringing grandchildren to experience Recbar 812, indicating cross-generational appeal and market sustainability for retro gaming venues - **[event_signal]** Major new arcade bar venue opening with significant pinball collection (confidence: high) — Recbar 812 opening in February 2020 with ~80 pinball machines and extensive arcade collection represents notable expansion of public pinball access in Louisville metro region --- ## Transcript **Date:** February 2020 **Location:** 336 Pearl St, New Albany, IN 47150, USA Louisville’s well-known arcade bar, [Recbar](http://www.recbarlouisville.com/), has recently opened a satellite location in Indiana named [Recbar 812](http://www.recbar812.com/). [![Recbar 812 in New Albany](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/08-recbar-812-1024x751.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/08-recbar-812.jpg) Recbar 812 in New Albany, IN [Recbar 812](https://www.facebook.com/Recbar812/) is truly massive, and the pictures in this review do not do it justice. The best way to describe it is a Dave and Busters on steroids. [![Two floors of games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/02-recbar-812-1024x754.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/02-recbar-812.jpg) Two floors of games Recbar’s original location in Jeffersontown, which opened in 2016, is Louisville metro’s biggest arcade bar. I am told that Recbar 812 is twice the square footage of the original, with row after row of classic arcade games (list at the end of this review), colorful decor and a wide selection of food and drinks. Recbar 812 is ‘all ages’ until it switches to 21+ at 10 pm. Recbar 812 has dining, bars and games on both levels, and about 80 pinball machines. [![The pinball collection](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/10-recbar-812-1024x543.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/10-recbar-812.jpg) The pinball collection [![Some of Recbar 812's pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/11-recbar-812-787x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/11-recbar-812.jpg) Some of Recbar 812’s pinballs Recbar 812 boasts one of the biggest pinball collections available to the public under one roof in North America. One of the highlights is the *Hercules* pinball machine in the restaurant’s front corner. The game, released by Atari in 1979, is the largest pinball machine ever made, and Recbar’s is one of ten known to be in working order for public use. [![Hercules by Atari](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/06-recbar-812-653x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/06-recbar-812.jpg) Hercules by Atari All games are token operated, and Recbar 812 has commissioned custom tokens for you collectors out there. There are token machines on both levels. [![Recbar 812's tokens](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/20-recbar-812-1024x820.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/20-recbar-812.jpg) Recbar 812’s tokens [![Lots of tokens](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/19-recbar-812-1024x637.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/19-recbar-812.jpg) Lots of tokens The food at Recbar includes pub staples such as hamburgers (including the burger of the month), tacos and sandwiches. Tater Tots (or ‘tots for you *Napoleon Dynamite* fans) are one of the restaurant’s specialties. Recbar 812’s “totchos” are covered with toppings such as queso, pulled pork, and bacon. [![The dining area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/04-recbar-812-1024x675.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/04-recbar-812.jpg) The dining area Something on [the menu](http://www.recbar812.com/grub.html) we found fascinating but not brave enough to order was the *Cougar Bait* (Country Boy Brewing beer-battered) fish tacos. We did try the *Grilled Mac* that is beer cheese Mac topped with Gouda cheese stuffed between Texas toast which was excellent with a side of tots. [![The dining area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/03-recbar-812-1024x737.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/03-recbar-812.jpg) The dining area On the lighter side the *I Was A Roman Emperor And All I Got Was This Salad* is available topped with grilled chicken after being tossed with that familiar dressing. Recbar 812’s restaurant’s general concept is to use stuff you liked as a kid and turn it into an adult menu. The bar features many craft and local beers, with about twenty beers on tap and another forty-to-fifty can/bottle options. Draft options include Ciderboy’s *First Press*, Sun King Brewery’s *Sunlight Cream Ale* and Against the Grain Brewery ’s *Citra Ass Down*. The complete tap listing can be found [on their website](http://www.recbar812.com/grains.html). [![The bar area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/07-recbar-812-1024x718.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/07-recbar-812.jpg) The bar area Recbar 812 also offers speciality cocktails, and will eventually have Recbar’s famous *Buffalo Trace Bourbon* Slushie when Recbar 812 completes installation of a shiny new slushie machine – ETA late February. The menu offers sugary ‘Bonus Level’ treats such as breakfast cereals, candies and other sweet treats, including *Oh Cinapp!* ice cream coated with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or *Saturday Morning Ice Cream Sandwich* which is Fruity Pebbles and ice cream served between mini-waffles. Some of the cocktails will include garnishes such as the *Sour Patch Kids*, *Scooby Snacks* candies and *Cocoa Puffs*. The walls are adorned in colorful murals by local artist Braylyn ‘Resko’ Stewart depicting images ranging from *Mario Kart* to 1980s movies such as *Back to the Future*. The plan is for the murals to be an “evolving art piece” with images added over time. [![Some of the wall art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/14-recbar-812-1024x712.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/14-recbar-812.jpg) Some of the wall art [![Some of the wall art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/16-recbar-812-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/16-recbar-812.jpg) More of the wall art [![More of the wall art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/15-recbar-812-1024x714.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/15-recbar-812.jpg) More of the wall art Terri and my time here was limited and our visit was during the ‘adult time’ so we had to rely on the ‘locals’ for information about the crowd that Recbar 812 draws during the daytime. It would seem as though many adults over fifty are bringing their grandchildren to experience Recbar 812’s [retro gaming experience](http://www.recbar812.com/games.html). [![Enjoying the pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/09-recbar-812-1024x606.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/09-recbar-812.jpg) Enjoying the pinballs The following game list was provided by Recbar 812 on 4th February, 2020. **Pinball Machines:** * Ali * Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle * Barb Wire * Batman 66 Premium * Baywatch * Big Guns * Black Knight: Sword of Rage LE * Breakshot * Class of 1812 * Corvette * CSI * Cyclone * Demolition Man * Dracula, Bram Stoker’s * Dirty Harry * F-14 Tomcat * Family Guy * Flash * Flintstones, The * Freddy: A Nightmare on Elm Street * Galaxy * Getaway, The: High Speed 2 * Gilligan’s Island * Gladiators * Goldwings * Hard Body * Hercules (World’s Largest Pinball Machine) * High Roller Casino * High Speed * Hook * Judge Dredd * Jurassic Park (Data East) * Last Action Hero * Metallica Pro * Millionaire * Monday Night Football * Mousin’ Around * Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man * No Fear: Dangerous Sports * No Good Gofers * Oktoberfest * Party Animal * Pin\*Bot * Pirates of the Caribbean (Stern) * Police Force * Popeye Saves the Earth * Rescue 911 * RoboCop * Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends, The Adventures of * Roller Coaster Tycoon * Sea Hunt (shaker pin) * Secret Service * Shaq Attaq * Shadow, The * South Park * Space Jam * Space Shuttle * Space Station * Spring Break * Star Trek Pro VE * Star Wars (Data East) * Stargate * Stars * Strange Science * Street Fighter 2 * Tales from the Crypt * Theatre of Magic * Time Machine (Data East) * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles * Tommy, The Who’s * Viper Night Drivin’ * Whodunnit? * Wipeout * World Challenge Soccer * X-Men Pro [![The video games area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/01-recbar-812-1024x696.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/01-recbar-812.jpg) The video games area [![Upright videos](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/17-recbar-812-1024x716.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/17-recbar-812.jpg) Upright videos [![Sit-down driving games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/12-recbar-812-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/12-recbar-812.jpg) Sit-down driving games **Arcade Games:** * Aliens Extermination * Altered Beast * Ameridarts * Arachnid Shuffleboard (2) * Arch Rivals * Bad Dudes * Battle Shark * Beer Pong Master * Blitz 99 (4-Player) * Ed Boon-a-Rang Air Hockey * Boxer (3) * Bubble Hockey * Bust A Move * Capcom Bowling * Carnevil * Centipede (2) * Crazy Taxi * Crime Fighters * Crisis Zone * DDR Extreme * Defender Cocktail * Donkey Kong * Double Dragon * Dunk N Alien * Dynamo Air Hockey * Extreme Hunting 2 * Fireball (Spectrum) * Football Fever * Frogger * Galaga Cocktail * Gate of Doom * Gauntlet (4-Player) * Ghosts and Goblins Cocktail * Golden Tee * Gravity Hill * Gyruss * Hoop Fever * House of the Dead (2) * House of the Dead 2 * Hungry Hungry Hippos * Hydro Thunder (2-Player Linked) * Ice Ball (2 Lanes) * Ice Cold Beer * Jubeat * Jump Bug * Jurassic Park 3 * Kung Fu Master * Ladybug * Looping * Lunar Lander * Madden (4-Player) * Mario Kart (6-Player Linked) * Millipede * Missile Command * Mortal Kombat II * Motocross Go * Nascar Racing (2-Player Linked) * NBA Jam (4-Player) * NBA Jam Tournament Edition (4-Player) * NFL 2 Minute Drill * NHL Open Ice (4-Player) * Off the Wall * Offroad * Outrun * Pac-Man * Pac-Man Cocktail * Pac-Man Plus * Ping Pong (2 Tables) * Pit Fighter * Popeye Cocktail * Powerputt * Punch-Out * Rastan * Revolution X * Road Burners * RoboCop * Rough Ranger * Silver Strike Bowling * Soul Calibur * Space Gun * Special Forces Elite Training * Spider-Man * Star Wars Trilogy Stand-up * Stock Car Challenge * Super Kixx Bubble Soccer * Super Mario Bros * Super Monaco GP * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (4-Player) * Tekken * Tekken 2 * Tekken Tag Tournament * Tempest * Terminator Salvation * Time Crisis 4 * Title Fight * Wrestlefest (4-Player) * X-Men: Children of the Atom * X-Men vs Street Fighter [![Recbar-branded merchandise is also available](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/13-recbar-812-1024x800.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/13-recbar-812.jpg) Recbar and Recbar 812 branded merchandise is also available We have Recbar 812 on our radar for a more in-depth visit sometime this summer, but this overview gives you an insight into this new arcade bar in the Louisville KY metro area. [![There is wall art on the outside too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/05-recbar-812-1024x892.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/recbar-812/05-recbar-812.jpg) Remember, as you leave… _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: b8895ac9-f287-4a47-a7b7-efa46ab8a9c7*