“When we were kids, all we wanted to do was hang out in arcades and play video games, but we didn’t have any money. Now that we’re adults and have money, there aren’t any arcades anymore.”

That’s how Joshua Nickerson explains the motivation behind Tilt Classic Arcade and Ale House, which will open along Route 7 in South Burlington later this spring.

Nickerson is partnering with Thom Dodge, the former managing partner at Hinesburgh Public House, to fill a 2,500-square-foot, two-level space with dozens of pinball machines and arcade games, including Pac-Man, Centipede and Galaga. “We’ll have 12 to 14 pinball machines to start, and 14 to 15 arcade games,” says Nickerson, a radiologist at Fletcher Allen Health Care, who modeled Tilt on similar venues he’s visited in other cities.

Tilt will have tables, booths and a “long” bar with 15 taps — most of them devoted to local craft brews — as well as Vermont spirits. Dodge is planning a menu of “easy-to-carry-around-with-you food,” says Nickerson — which might include burgers, chili and fish tacos.

Nickerson and Dodge leased the space at 7 Fayette Drive — near the Palace 9 Cinemas — through Peter Yee of Yellow Sign Commercial. The partners hope to have Tilt open by late May or early June. We’re getting our trigger fingers ready.

The original print version of this article was headlined “Sips & Blips”

This article appears in The Real Estate Issue 2014.

Got something to say?

Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!

Corin Hirsch was a Seven Days food writer 2011 through 2016. She was also a dining critic and drinks columnist at Newsday from 2017 to 2022, and contributes to The Guardian, Wine Enthusiast and other publications. She’s spoken often on colonial era...

6 replies on “Arcade and Ale House to Open in South Burlington”

  4. I’d go at least 5 years more current with the some of the games: TMNT 4, X-Men, Time Crisis, Metal Slug. These are hugely popular arcade games that are actually fun to play for more than 1 attempt and can sustain people’s attention spans, thus making more people play and making more money. I’d keep this place in business on alcohol and game prices alone if they could pull their selection beyond 1988.

    Bottom line: You could be like Dream Machine at the Umall if it was still open, but you could get dank food and drink beers there, too. No one actually enjoys pinball that much. I want to have a Heady Topper with my Street Fighter matches.

  5. I had an idea like that.. Suds and put. A 2 story bar and mini golf played on 2 floors. Sounds great guys!

  6. This is amazing! I think there will be people who don’t get it, but for those of us who do, this is incredible news. Mr. “No one enjoys Pinball that much” unfortunately (for him) grew up in the wrong decade, but there are MANY of us who appreciate these nostalgic games and will hopefully keep this place in business for years to come. Who knows, this place may even inspire some who did not grow up in the right decade.
    Thanks for taking a risk and adding to the offerings in Burlington! You’ll find me at the Pinball machines with a FiddleHead in my hand.

Comments are closed.