Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Milavetz.
Hi Eric, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Six years ago, I opened Arcade 2084 in Hillsboro, a 21+ cocktail lounge with vintage games as atmosphere. An era accurate environment of the textures, sounds, the color palettes, the culture- and fun- of the 80s. We won multiple Gold Ribbons, including Best Cocktails, Best Nightclub, Best Entertainment Venue, Best Attraction, and yes, Best Arcade, too, beating million-dollar competitors at their own game.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No. We survived pandemic, city barricades fencing off our entrance, predatory landlords, a 60-decibel noise ordinance that made music illegal, and internal theft. Each time, we adapted. Our final months showed ~50% margins. The model works. When, after 5 years, conditions became untenable, we made a strategic decision to preserve our equipment, saddle up, and relocate.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
“I’m an artist working in the medium of business. The work I produce is a vibe of community that I believe people are ready for, and where I’ve seen people remember how to be in the same room together. To accomplish this, my technique is to restore some other systems. Electro-mechanical. The social contract.
I specialize in the intersection of Hospitality, Political Science, technological innovation and entertainment. I’m best known recently for the “needlessly detailed”(attribution: Willamette Week) art and sexy, sci-fi narrative of Arcade 2084.
And I am proud of that detailed work. It was attention to detail that kept us open, innovating products like the ROOT’84 nitro rootbeers and specialty pizzas, that garnered us accolades, while other places closed for good. I’d be untruthful to say I wasn’t proud of all of that. I couldn’t be more proud of the crew of 2084. The people who lent a hand. Stephen the bartender. Shana, my partner the hands-on owner, who stepped up every single day without fail.
But what I am most proud of is the ineffable vibe of community I set out to create.
At Arcade 2084, guests filled a book with inscriptions – many telling what they found: Marriages, friendships, people who drove from California, flew from Hawaii and Alaska – and they came from even farther -because they’d heard about a place where the blacklight and CRT glow felt like coming home. Everyone needs to know that such a place is possible, but you have to make it. Our guests did that. The guests who came to make new friends, are what- who- I am most proud of.”
What are your plans for the future?
“Yes. The Hangar. The Hangar is our planned 21+ aerospace-themed cocktail lounge in Vancouver, Washington. Everything people loved about 2084 is coming back even better. Mission Control, our 24/7 music stream on air soon, will fill everyone in on whats to come. Award-winning cocktails like the Red Dawn, plus new creations. Our legendary pizza. Vintage pinball, pool, 80s and 90s games. Karaoke, DJ, Awesome Music. No cover, no wristbands, no charge to play. The Time Shuttle Chronicles graphic novel in development. New ROOT’84 flavors rolling out. We believe there is a smooth road ahead. We are very excited about it. We know lots of others are, too. We hope everyone will hang out with us at The Hangar, in the future.”
Contact Info:
- Website: arcade2084.com hangarcocktailbar.com
- Instagram: @arcade_2084 @hangarcocktailbar
