A new bar arcade is coming to Iowa City.

The Paramount Barco of Cedar Falls is bringing a Double Tap location to Iowa City, set to open in late April. The bar will be in the Pedestrian Mall next to Roxxy and beneath the Stuffed Olive, a martini and tapas bar set to open in May, which are both owned by Paramount.

Aaron Schurman, an owner of Paramount Barco, also owns a video game company called SciPlay. He said his passion for gaming led him to come up with the concept for Double Tap.

The concepts of the three bars owned by the company in Iowa City go well together, Schurman said, and can make for the ultimate night out.

“You can take your girlfriend or boyfriend out, and you’ve got a place to get some food and chill and get a little romantic, [the Stuffed Olive],” he said. “You got a place, [Roxxy], to dance and get crazy. Got a place to play some games, [Double Tap], which makes it really fun.”

The arcade will include games like Mario Kart, Pac-Man, NFL Blitz, Killer Queen, Galaga, Skee-Ball, and several iterations of Pinball, to name just a few of over 50 games slated to be in the bar.

Schurman said some of the games offered are perfect for gaming leagues, which he plans to host at the bar on weeknights.

Paramount Barco CEO Darin Beck said Double Tap will have a variety of Iowa and national craft beers on tap at all times along with typical domestic beers.

When finished, the bar will be over 3,000 square feet in size and hold around 150 people at a time. Beck said the walls will be decorated with over 200 beer taps and a myriad of beer and game-themed art.

While all three of Paramount’s Iowa City locations will be bar forward, Beck said they will all offer food, with Double Tap offering several specialty pizzas and sharing a kitchen with Roxxy and the Stuffed Olive.

He said Paramount decided to expand to Iowa City in April 2021. At the time, Beck and the other owners were unsure what to expect but have been pleased with the results since entering the new market.

Beck said the success of Roxxy, which opened in November 2021, has given Paramount additional confidence for the openings of Double Tap and the Stuffed Olive.

“It’s a party area, but we’re trying to bring something a little different to Iowa City,” he said. “But I don’t feel like Iowa City has anything like what we’re bringing here in all three concepts. I hope people think I’m right.”

Matt Buffington, vice president of operations at Paramount Barco, said Double Tap will likely host family days from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, when people of all ages will be able to come into the bar.

“Whether you’re an active gamer in college or you get nostalgic from playing some old arcade games from the ‘80s, I think everybody will find something that they enjoy,” he said.