In the Zone

At Your Friendly Neighborhood Arcade

Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Eric Morales

As someone who grew up in the ‘90s, Imran Acosta, owner of Texas Gamers Lounge, may be partial to classic arcade games, but he appreciates how much the gaming industry has evolved in recent years.

“When I was growing up, only two or three new games would come out every month,” Imran recalls. “But nowadays, new games are coming out all day, every day.”

Embracing the wide variety of game styles available today, Texas Gamers Lounge (TGL) is the go-to destination for all things gaming. Offering a balanced mix of arcade games and console games, as well as weekly tournaments and events, the arcade prides itself on being inclusive of all types of players. Whether someone wants to compete in an online game with a group of friends or simply wants to turn back time with a few rounds of old school arcade games, TGL has something for everyone. “We want our space to reflect what the gamers want to experience,” says Imran.

Imran’s desire to create a welcoming environment centered around games stems from his fond childhood memories of frequenting the local arcade every day after school. His love for the classic pastime eventually led him to collecting arcade games, but what started as a hobby quickly snowballed into something much more. Imran got to the point where he had so many games that he needed to rent storage units just to hold them.

“I have 30 games, and I’m paying around $300 a month to store them,” he remembers thinking at the time. “But I can’t enjoy them and no one else can either, so what’s the point of having all of this stuff?”

This realization was the push Imran needed to dust off his games, pull them out of storage, and open an arcade for others to enjoy. TGL opened in Lockhart in 2012, and it didn’t take long for the business to take off. While the original location has since moved to a bigger space in San Marcos, it wasn’t until recently that Imran decided on Austin for a second location.

After looking for a new space for a year and operating a pop up out of Spider House Ballroom, TGL officially opened its doors at its current location last November. While TGL had already built up a fan base here despite not having a physical presence (thanks to a longtime partnership with SXSW as a gaming expo sponsor), its central location has allowed them to reach new pockets of the gaming community.

The arcade accommodates gamers from all skill levels and strives to create an environment that meets a wide range of entertainment needs—even if that means providing games that he’s not yet familiar with. “When people request a new game, my mindset is always, if you can get a group of people [together] who want to play that game, I’ll buy it.”

With tons of new and nostalgic games to choose from and countless tournaments to participate in, Imran’s community-driven ethos is no doubt what has drawn people into TGL.

“I feel like your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man,” he smiles. “We feel we are your friendly neighborhood arcade.”

Native Knowledge

Texas Gamers Lounge offers unlimited play for $9.99 a day. But to get the best bang for your buck, consider getting a VIP membership which includes unlimited play every day for $30 a month.