Chris and Tiffany Brennaman opened their comic store Infinite Realities six and a half years ago. Now, the couple is shifting to a new concept for their second local business. They plan to open an arcade bar called Infinite Horizons in a 2,500-square-foot space at 2316 Main Street, Suite E, in Tucker.
Chris told What Now Atlanta that as the two considered how to expand their business, they knew they wanted to keep the focus on building community, which is a business model they have been cultivating at Infinite Realities since its inception.
“We’re very community-oriented and we foster that,” Chris said. “We’re very big on everyone [being] welcome.”
Chris was raised watching the television show “Cheers” — a show that follows the lives of regulars at a Boston bar — and the idea of everyone being welcome and knowing people’s names appealed to Chris. It is something he and his team prioritize at Infinite Realities — and an element of hospitality he plans to carry on at Infinite Horizons.
“That’s what my wife Tiffany and I have built these last six and a half years at Infinite Realities, and we wanted to expand the business and expand that community model,” he said.
Initially, the duo were looking into opening a second comic store. However, with the recent uncertainty surrounding global trade, opening another business in an industry that relies heavily on imported paper-based products did not feel economically viable. So, they pivoted and decided to pursue an arcade bar concept, inspired by the nostalgia they each carry from their own arcade experiences from their youth. The arcade concept also aligned with their goal to foster community.
“You can just exist. Be you, no matter where you are or where you came from,” Chris said. “[You can] take a break from your worries for a while — that’s our goal.”
Customers can expect to see 30 arcade machines in the space at a time, featuring classics like Pac-Man, Street Fighter, Mortal Combat and Dance Dance Revolution. The Brennamans plan to rotate the available games regularly. There will also be console gaming available.
The menu will feature beer and wine, as well as non-alcoholic offerings like mocktails, sodas and ice cream.
“We want something for everyone here — not just people who want a beer, but also people who don’t drink,” Chris said. “We want this to be a place for the community, and we love it.”
So far, the Brennamans have loved the excitement they have seen from the Tucker community since they announced the concept. Chris expects buildout to take a few months, and they are aiming for an October opening.
“We are most excited about being an honest-to-goodness third space. I think that we’re starting to realize that pushing everything online, it was a mistake to let third spaces go away,” Chris said. “We’re hoping that Infinite Horizons will appeal to a much larger base than the comic shop would, and that a larger cross section of people will discover the joy that we have and the joy we bring with our business.”
