Adult-geared arcade targets August launch

Officials with a new arcade aimed at adults expect the downtown venue to debut before summer’s end.

Infill work at 301 Park Central East is ongoing for Bigg Time Arcade LLC, a collaborative venture involving leaders with Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar and New York-style pizzeria The Big Slice LLC. Matt Faucett, one of the arcade’s owners, said he hopes for a late August opening.

“That all kind of depends on licensing,” he said. “We’ll see how all that plays out.”

Faucett, who also is general manager at Ernie Biggs, said the 5,000-square-foot arcade will feature roughly 15-20 competition-based games, such as pinball machines, Skee-Ball, pool tables and a punching bag machine. A trio of TruGolf indoor golf simulators, which measure club and ball data and provide virtual reproductions of golf courses, also are on tap, Faucett said.

“People will be able to come in and play golf for an hour or two and play courses from all over the country,” he said, adding food and alcoholic drinks also are planned at the arcade.

Prices to play each of the games are still being determined but the arcade will not have an admission fee, Faucett said, adding the owners are working with Springfield-based Kinney Amusement & Vending Co. to source the games. Aside from Faucett, the ownership team is Ernie Biggs employee Collin Saddler; Jay Hickman and Daniel Bryan, who also both co-own Ernie Biggs; and Levi Grant, who owns the Sunshine Street Big Slice location and is co-owner of The Big Slice on Kansas Expressway.

“We worked with Levi in the past over (at Ernie Biggs) and we all came together to do this,” Faucett said, noting The Big Slice previously sold pizza at the downtown bar.

Grant said he got involved in the project after a conversation with Hickman, who told him of the concept and added it needed a food component. The arcade will offer the full menu of the pizza restaurant, including wings, garlic knots, stromboli, mozzarella sticks, ravioli, calzones and salads.

“They’ll be doing their same Big Slice concept right next to the bar,” Faucett said.

Food will be available in the arcade and for pickup orders, but Grant said delivery is currently not planned. The Big Slice, which was founded in 2013, also operates at 1454 E. Sunshine St. and 4126 S. Kansas Expressway. He said the arcade will employ roughly 20 upon opening, depending on how many hours staff want.

“I look forward to Bigg Time getting open,” Grant said via email. “It will be a great family place with the best pizza in town.”

Other than electrical work, Faucett said the owners are handling infill at the building, also owned by Hickman and Bryant. Faucett estimated startup costs will be $200,000.

While a jukebox will be on-site to provide music, live musical acts aren’t in the plans, he said.

The Park Central East space formerly was occupied by Vintage Dance Lounge, which shuttered in 2021, he said. Chamberlain Architects PC is architect for the project, which doesn’t have a general contractor, officials say.

Bigg Time’s arrival will mark the second arcade to open in downtown Springfield. The 1980s-themed arcade, 1984, is nearing 20 years in business, having opened in 2005. It includes dozens of arcade machines spanning two floors in a building on Jefferson Avenue, less than a mile away from where the new venture will launch.

“We’re not doing anything like vintage arcade games like at 1984,” Faucett said. “These will all be somewhat competition-based games.”

Additionally, Faucett said the target audience at Bigg Time Arcade is primarily adults, noting the facility also will have a full bar stocked with beer, wine and spirits. At least 10 beers will be on tap with a mix of local, domestic and imported options, he said. The lineup is yet to be finalized.

“The arcade is kid-friendly, but obviously it is adult geared with it having a full bar,” he said, noting the arcade will be open to all ages up until 8 p.m., at which time it will transition into a 21-and-older venue.

Hours of operation are still being determined, but Faucett said the arcade likely will be open Tuesday-Sunday.

“We want to be open for lunch and probably plan to close at midnight,” he said. “That could change, obviously, depending on crowd volume.”