Game over: Lexington restaurant known for retro arcade closes after 6 months
A Lexington restaurant that featured more than 70 vintage arcade games and a menu of burgers, sandwiches and tots has closed after six months.
Tilty Bob’s, which opened in late March at 319 Cedar St. near the University of Kentucky campus, announced the news on its Facebook page.
“This is a post that is never easy to make but unfortunately this past week was the last for Tilty Bob’s,” the restaurant said. “We’ve met a lot of great people during our short tenure and want to thank everyone who spent some time with us the past six months. And as the wise, Bill S. Preston, Esq. once said, be excellent to each other!”
Tilty Bob’s opened in the former Napa Prime/JDI Grille building location at the corner of Broadway and Cedar.
The restaurant was an offshoot of the popular Recbar restaurants that owners Corey Sims and Tony Thomas opened in Louisville and New Albany, Ind. Those restaurants appear to still be open.
The owners said they wanted to create a fun place for adults, University of Kentucky students and kids to play vintage games pinball and arcade and eat pub “comfort food.”
Sims did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the restaurant has closed.
With three-stories and 8,500 square feet, the restaurant offered several full bars, dining and wall-to-wall retro games played with Tilty Bob’s tokens purchased on site.
The menu included lots of loaded macaroni and cheese, tater tots and burgers.
