Back to the Future for Everett video game lounge

Grand opening of the arcade and lounge, Side Quest, in Everett, Wash. Co-owners, Kate Gordon and Nabel Sawiris, middle, cut the red ribbon held by two of their children. (photo: Downtown Everett Association)

EVERETT — Married with three young kids doesn’t lend itself to opening a small business, but Nabel Sawiris and Kate Gordon are pursuing just that with an arcade theme lounge intended to bring families and video game players together.

The 21st century term, “screenagers” entered the American lexicon as tablets and phones became an electronic pacifier in some cases for kids, but for Sawiris and Gordon, the idea behind the grand opening of Side Quest, at 1313 Hewitt Ave., is to meld the popularity of video games into family fun.

“We have three young kids,” Sawiris tells the EverettPost.com. “There’s not very many options to take your three young kids that isn’t super expensive or annoying or crazy. So, we wanted to provide that for not just our kids, but other kids in the neighborhood.”

For some gamers, the idea of an arcade harkens back to the 1980s, but for Side Quest, Sawiris says, they want to embrace the future with the lounge and game play. “The idea there is you play together, right? That’s the whole idea. You come here. You play together. You enjoy it as a family,” which Sawiris has already witnessed can be multi-generational. “In the soft openings that we’ve had, a lot of grandparents have brought their grandchildren, which has been kind of really nice to see as well.”

The family connection for Side Quest is rooted in Gordon’s work as a therapist who specializes in working with children. She practices just down the street from the newly opened arcade and lounge.

For launching a family run, small business involving arcade video games, Sawiris says about his wife, “She is the opposite of a gamer. She’s a therapist. So, she understands the community aspect of gaming. This has the community aspect which she can get behind more than if you know, you’re just sitting on your phone and playing a game by yourself,” at home.

Sawiris admits, he’s the co-owner more likely to be a dedicated gamer. For those parents that share the affinity for arcade style video games and want to revisit classic games from their youth with their kids today, you’ll find many familiar friends ready to play at Side Quest. There’s a Pac-Man machine, NBA Jams, Mario Brothers, Street Fighter, Golden Tee and Asteroids if you want to go way back. There are several multi-game machines that offer an extensive variety of 1990s arcade games to explore and if you’re really old school a foosball and a billiards table are ready if you want to play analog.

Side Quest is already employing the message to customers: No tokens, no quarters, just time to play. The cost to play unlimited games is $10 an hour or $25 all day. “And that’s what we really wanted to do is make it very affordable,” Sawiris shares, for customers who want to get the most bang for the entertainment buck.

Currently Side Quest is open 4pm-10pm Wednesday and Thursday. Friday 4pm-11pm. Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday noon-6pm. Sawiris and Gordon have designed Side Quest as a comfortable lounge for grown-ups and a space built for birthday parties, date nights, friend hangs, or weekend adventures. The pair are in the process of obtaining a beer and wine license, “to help the parents relax” which can allow the adults to grab drinks while someone else handles the high scores. Side Quest also offers a limited menu of snacks and food but intend to support local businesses by featuring their drinks and treats.

Their aim, he says, is to provide safe, engaging fun for children with a lounge space for parents to unwind, but he and Gordon are mindful that a cacophony of noise isn’t exactly how the big kids want to spend their downtime getting inundated with noise when family time can be so fleeting. “We have a pretty big space, but we don’t want to fill it all up with games like you would normally see in an arcade. Mostly because my wife and I both don’t like really loud noises, surprisingly.”

Another feature of Side Quest is an array of retail, which Sawiris hopes to expand soon with Lego. He says they’re establishing a “Curated selection of…retail to drive business in the future,” including Funko Pop and other offerings. “This is actually a good time to come and shop. You can have a lot of nerd-centric gift stuff that they can buy for the holidays.” Imagine crossing things off your holiday shopping list in October!

Sawiris, Gordon and family held their grand opening on Wed. September 30th. Gordon was born in Edmonds and raised in Everett. In contrast to traditional arcades which focus on individual gameplay or high-volume turnover, Side Quest Co-Play Arcade and Lounge will emphasize shared experiences, local flavor, and a comfortable, casual atmosphere.