(COLORADO SPRINGS) — In this week’s Foodie Finds, FOX21’s Krista Witiak visits a local spot where games, good food, and family come together.
What started as a date night tradition quickly turned into a dream come true for Barbi and her husband, now the proud owners of The Control Room Arcade Bar in Colorado Springs.
“We used to come here on date night. Then I got a job here… and eventually, we bought the bar,” said Barbi Ferguson. “It was so fun for both of us.”
The Control Room is packed with arcade classics — from Galaga and Buckner to air hockey — and yes, they still run on quarters. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or introducing your kids to your childhood favorites, the arcade brings generations together.
“We’ve got games that kids and grandpas can enjoy side by side,” says Barbi. “It’s really all about connection.”
While the games bring people through the door, it’s the food that keeps them coming back. The menu includes loaded mac and cheese bowls (a Ferguson date night favorite), creamy wontons with sweet chili sauce, and hand-tossed pizzas made with family sauces passed down for four generations.
Standout dishes include the Butcher Block Pizza, the Rockin’ Combo, and the popular Bowser Burger, topped with grilled onions, jalapeños, bacon, peaches, and a spicy Colorado BBQ sauce known as Warlock Sauce.
Pair the food with one of their frozen cocktails, like the Orange Dreamsicle or Pac-Man Punch, and you’ve got a flavor experience that’s just as playful as the arcade itself.
From weekly karaoke and trivia nights to pinball leagues, birthday parties, and holiday events, The Control Room is just as much about community as it is about fun.
“We have so many birthday parties and wedding groups and just celebrations that they get up there and they sing as groups or they sing one at a time and just have a good time,” Barbi shared.
It’s not just a business, it’s the best parts of one family, all under one roof.
“So in my family, my husband and son are the gamers. My daughter and I are the entertaining people,” said Barbi. “I had an old bartender buddy come in when we first bought the bar, and he looked around and he goes, ‘Barb, this is the perfect mix of you and your family.’ And it is.”
So, from the first bite to the last game, The Control Room is a win-win!
Scan the QR code above or visit fox21news.com/deals to grab a $50 gift certificate to The Control Room Arcade Bar for just $25. Only 100 are available — don’t miss out! Head to The Control Room at 6120 Barnes Rd. Ste 110 to check it out!
