Featuring a mix of arcade games, local art, “chiptunes” and boutique items, Weston Henry’s new venture, Cade, opens March 4 for First Fridays in downtown Phoenix. Six or seven arcade games line one wall of the small storefront on North Fourth and East McKinley streets. Art hangs on the walls, and the rest of the boutique is filled with t-shirts and other local products.
Every month or so Cade will feature a different local artist. Currently the boutique features Nathan Nelson Ross’s series “The Empire,” a pop art Surrealist-esque collection based on the Star Wars series. Ross is also Henry’s business partner for the gallery. There are different artists lined up from now until June so far.
Henry says he was inspired partially by Ground Kontrol in Portland, Oregon.
“We really liked that place, and we wanted a cool hangout here,” Henry said. Nathan’s “a full time artist, so we thought we’d smash together a classic arcade and art gallery. We’ve got a bunch of classic arcade games, all original games, running on quarters.”
Both Ross and Henry are ASU alumni, and they hope to create an atmosphere where students and everyone else can linger and enjoy the art as well as the console games.
“We want somewhere people can go if they don’t want to have a beer, just play some games, look at some art,” Henry said. “We’ll get some DJs … If you’re not 21 around here, it’s like, where are you going to go? We want to make Cade that place.”
In the future, Henry says, the gallery will look into potentially obtaining a liquor license, but this wouldn’t change the carefree ambiance. Henry plans to offer smaller snacks and non-alcoholic beverages as well.
Hours will usually be noon through 7:00 p.m., although Henry plans to stay open later on weekend nights as needed.
He says the gallery would be extremely open to suggestions from the public, especially ASU students.
“We definitely appreciate students,” Henry said. “The biggest thing is I want to be part of not only the downtown Phoenix community but the ASU community as well. We appreciate feedback — our hours, games, artists, what people like to see. We would love any input from the student body.”
Contact the reporter at cassandra.strauss@asu.edu
