Craig Howell GOING RETRO - Hunter's Retrocade, located at 707 Main St., Follansbee, is now opened for business, offering an array of classic arcade games for all ages. The Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed the business to the community Thursday, with a grand opening celebration.

FOLLANSBEE – Those who yearn for the early days of commercial video games or those who might want to experience the feeling for the first time have a place to go in the Ohio Valley.

Hunter’s Retrocade opened its doors recently at 707 Main St. in Follansbee, offering an array of “old-school” gaming experiences, from air hockey tables to skee-ball and lots of video game options for young and old.

Thursday, the business, owned by Corey and Christina Larkins, was welcomed to the community by a grand opening celebration with the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We started collecting about eight years ago,” Corey Larkins explained, noting what started out as a hobby of nostalgia soon turned into an idea for the business through the encouragement of friends and family.

The business is named for the couple’s teenage son, Hunter.

“We’ve gotten positive feedback,” Corey Larkins said of the response to the business so far.

Just as they did when they were first released, the games still take quarters to operate, with some dispensing tickets to be exchanged for a variety of prizes.

It all takes a lot of upkeep, Larkins noted, but it’s something he enjoys.

“We’ve always liked restoring old stuff,” he said, pointing out the building in which they are located is around 116 years old and itself needed some fixing up before they could move in.

Sandy Kemp, vice president of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce, said the business has been receiving a lot of attention and she believes it will add a positive element for the area.

“This is a great place for the community,” Kemp said. “It throws you back.”

Hunter’s Retrocade also has established party packages for those interested in holding events there.

The business is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.