When you walk into Chicago Pizza at the Jacksonville Landing, the first thing you see is a pair of old-school arcade game consoles to the left just inside the door.
It’s Mario Brothers and Popeye.
Walk past the bar and into the former dining room that opens into the covered patio along the Riverwalk and you’ll find the 21st century of video games.
The booths, tables and chairs have been replaced with GLHF Game Bar — “good luck, have fun.”
Billed as “Jacksonville’s home for gamers and nerds alike,” it’s equipped with the latest games and hardware, including PC consoles, Xbox, NES, N64, PS4, Sega Genesis and Wii.
The software side includes about 100 of the latest titles of all genres.
“This is the only thing like this between Atlanta and Orlando,” said manager Taya Keller.
The covered patio outside is equipped with a full bar, plus low-tech games like cornhole, Jenga and a pool table.
The other part of the GLHF slogan is “we like to get competitive and have a drink while we do it.”
A bar in the room serves a selection of craft cocktails with gamer themes like Mage’s Potion, Darth & Stormy and Sombra’s Elixir.
Beer and wine also are available.
The restaurant has developed a dedicated menu for the room — also with gamer themes.
It includes Pong pasta, Mutant pizza rolls, Dead Pochanga bites and Mega Mojo sliders.
The full Chicago Pizza menu is available as well, said Keller.
Gamers can pay by the hour — $6 for PC time, $8 for a TV and console — or buy daily, monthly and annual passes.
Tournaments are scheduled to begin after the holidays.
Geek trivia is Jan. 5, followed on Jan. 14 by the inaugural “Revival,” the first installment of a monthly fighting game tournament.
Presented by Villain Productions, games will include Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator, BlazBlue Central Fiction, King of Fighters XIV, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Street Fighter V.
The room is intended for adults, but minors accompanied by an adult are allowed until 10 p.m., said Keller.
GLHF Game Bar is open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday.
For more details and group reservations, visit glhfgamebar.com.
(904) 356-2466