Nostalgia and pinball are on tap at this retro-inspired Delaware County brewery and arcade
The new Springfield spot was inspired by the couple’s childhood in the ’80s and ’90s and leans heavily into nostalgia.
Stepping through the door of Battle Royale Brewing Co. is a bit like stepping through a time machine — if there were modern flat-screen TVs in the ’80s and ’90s, anyway.
Inside the soon-to-open “barcade” at 21 E. Springfield Rd., husband-and-wife duo Matt and Stephanie Courchain converted a roughly 1,000-square-foot former dog-grooming facility into a retro-inspired bar and arcade steeped in nostalgia.
“It’s kind of like all our nerdy passions put together in one space,” Matt Courchain said.
Battle Royale will soft open on Wednesday with a limited selection of predominantly canned sips. Its own beers are expected to be on tap in the following weeks.
It features a 15-seat bar surrounded by stools in rainbow shades of pink, blue, green, red, and yellow. A trio of green stained-glass pendant lights, reminiscent of the Sims-style plum bob that floats above each player, hang overhead.
A pair of slinky chandeliers, illuminated by black lights, add to the whimsy, as do the colorful LED lights incorporated into the front of the bar.
“It’s got a roller rink kind of vibe to it,” said Matt Courchain, 41, noting its similarities to the former Palace Roller Skating Center, now the Philly SkatePlex, in Northeast Philadelphia, where he and his wife grew up and have fond memories.
“That was just the nostalgia we’re trying to capture elements of,” said Stephanie Courchain, 44, who works full-time as a graphic designer. She refers to their colorful space as a “dopamine vibe.”
Adding to that vibe are rows of games, including Golden Axe, Sega Strike Fighter, Time Crisis, and Pac-Man, as well as pinball machines inspired by The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, John Wick, Stranger Things, and The Simpsons.
While games are a highlight at Battle Royale, it is, first and foremost, a 10-tap nano-brewery that plans to serve up small batches of Matt Courchain’s brews. In time, those will range from American light lagers to porters to hazy IPAs to ciders. Battle Royale also plans to have a rotating tap of beers from other Pennsylvania breweries, in addition to birch and root beers, mocktails, and a selection of craft hard and alcohol-free seltzers.
Matt Courchain, who began home brewing about a decade ago, plans eventually to can some beers, which will be available in four 16-ounce packs or as growlers.
Making small batches means they can be flexible with what they produce, allowing them to test out different flavors, he added.
While the duo is starting small on the beer front, Matt Courchain is looking to collaborate with local businesses to create special brews, including neighboring Sleepy Hollow Delly, a coffee stout in partnership with Napoletano Brothers, or even something using Vera’s Water Ice.
Food will be limited, with Battle Royale serving packaged snacks, as well as hot dogs, including “dollar dogs” during major sporting events. Brewery-goers can also bring in or order food from nearby eateries.
In addition to arcade games — which will take quarters — Battle Royale will have two TVs set up for video games, with others planned to air Philly sports. For really big events, there’s a 10-foot projection screen.
Further leaning into nostalgia, the couple plans to show iconic throwback movies and is aiming to air shows from Nick at Nite and ABC’s once-popular Friday night lineup, TGIF. Community events like Quizzo or figurine painting nights may come down the line.
With so many games, the goal is for Battle Royale to be family-friendly, with kids welcome until 7 p.m., so long as those under 18 are accompanied by an adult.
The duo have been doing most of the building’s renovations themselves. Stephanie Courchain’s mom, Janet Lyons, has also helped, and purchased the storefront last September.
In conceptualizing the space, they wanted to provide a bit of escapism from everyday life, as well as create a place for people of all generations to gather. The couple — who have a 4-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter — see it as somewhere parents or grandparents can hang out with their kids or grandkids. They also hope it fills some of the void for kid-friendly entertainment in Springfield, where they have lived for the last decade.
They see Battle Royale, which is located centrally in the township and just steps from the SEPTA Media-Sharon Hill trolley line, as largely catering to Springfield residents, while also drawing others from surrounding communities, as well as beer and gaming enthusiasts.
Battle Royale will be open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to midnight and Friday through Sunday from noon to midnight.
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