Back in Time Arcade II Set to Open in Gridley

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Nostalgia is the name of the game for Back in Time Arcade II.

Actually, it is Pac-Man, Mortal Combat, air hockey and more! Back in Time Arcade II, soon to open in Gridley, is one of two family owned and operated retro style arcades brought to the public by Damien Granados and Chris Swanson.

Granados and Swanson met while both were searching for arcade games. Granados was looking for popular games that he could easily refurbish. Swanson, who has a background in electronics, was looking for the same. “I started seeing this guy named Damien selling games on (Facebook) Marketplace,” Swanson said. It piqued his interest, the two met and it relit a fire in Swanson for working on broken games.

Of their working relationship, Granados says, “My thing is the bodywork, new graphics, making them look pretty. And then that is where it’s a perfect match because he’s the electrical, electronics guy.”

Granados opened Back in Time Arcade in Marysville in September of 2021. It was an instant hit. Granados says of his clientele, “It really surprised me that it’s everybody, really, from 3-years-old to 80-years-old. It’s the smiles on everybody’s faces and the shock. Like, ‘I haven’t seen that game since I was 8-years-old’ or whatever. I love all of that and that’s really why I do it.”

After meeting Granados, Swanson wanted to open his own location.

With Granados’ help, Swanson is opening Back in Time Arcade II in Downtown Gridley on Hazel St., next door to Our Town Pizzeria.

“Gridley seemed like a great place,” Swanson said. “And next to the pizza place seemed like a natural fit.”

The Gridley location will feature a different variety of games than the Marysville location. Granados said, “We wanted to give them a reason to go to both (locations).” The Marysville location is “more classic, stand-up arcade games,” with Gridley having the space for larger games like skeeball and air hockey.

Swanson and Granados agree, it is all about nostalgia and family.

“We want to see people happy. We want to do fun stuff,” Swanson said. “We’re at the age now where we need more fun in our life and we want to help share that with other people. And seeing people enjoy these games just like we did when we first got into it, it’s super fun.”

Back in Time Arcade II aims to have doors open at the Gridley location by Friday, May 27 for “free play” which is unlimited gaming for a flat rate of just $10 (some exceptions may apply).

For now, there will be two ways to play: “free play” nights and/or by reserving the arcade for private birthday parties. For information on arcade locations, hours of operation, “free play” nights and details on party packages at the Gridley and Marysville locations, visit Back in Time Arcade on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/backintimearcade.