Why is Ground Kontrol is one of my favorite places in town? Because it's an arcade filled with old arcade machines. Lots of old arcade machines.

On Thursday they reopened at their new location in Old Town. The new Ground Kontrol is larger, has a pinball lounge in an upstairs loft, a long, a vintage bar (no booze though), the occassional live DJ and, best of all, bathrooms, which the original lacked. NW 5th is a perfect spot for a retro arcade, given that its mere steps from Backspace and Just Be Toys, there's just one problem: it's adjacent to the bus mall. While that stretch is becoming more gentrified with each passing day, it's still a magnet for shifty types that apparently prey on those searching for an '80s nostalgia fix.

A few months back, I had an unpleasant encounter with two guys that seemed intent on stealing my tote bag. As I rounded a counter onto 5th, one approached and tried to strike up a conversation. Rather than answer, I looked over my shoulder to find the other quickly coming up behind me. We made eye contact and he stepped back. Without another word, they both turned and ducked around the corner.

A bag grab gone array? A poorly executed crack pitch? An attempt to kidnap and sell me into white slavery (the Shanghai Tunnels are within close proximity)? Or am I just being paranoid? This incident happened during the day yet I've been in Backspace after dark when it's been overrun by kids not yet in middle school. The area is currently stuck in a flux between a seedy past and an overpriced future.

Is the bus mall crowd enough to keep me from heading down there on a regular basis? Maybe. Regardless of my patronage, I'm sure the new Ground Kontrol will be a hit. It's within close proximity to the row of bars on 1st and it stays open late. Plus, did I mention it has bathrooms?