Best. Bar. Ever. Where else can you play classic arcade games for a quarter, be around really nice people, have great beer prices, play board games+trivia, AND have clean bathrooms? No where. Except 1984.
There is 90s trivia on Mondays, karaoke on Thursdays, a DJ on Friday and bands on Saturday.
Don't except to come here for dinner. There's no kitchen, but they do have an assortment of take out menus available and don't mind if you eat there. They also have small snacks and candy available for purchase.
The only con (for many) is that they still do not serve liquor. They do however serve all sorts of beer (big selection), cider, Mikes Hard Lemonades, old fashion Coca-Cola (in a bottle!) and other sodas. I'm also bummed by the location. I'd rather not travel to 4th street, but I'll manage. It's definitely worth it.
1984 is an 80's themed concept bar, thus the name. Â Two thumbs up on an original concept. Â This place is loaded with arcade games and pinball machines from the 1980s. Â Seeing all of these games, bought back memories of going to the arcade at the mall during my youth. Â All of the video games are a quarter, just like they were a long time ago. Â The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable of video games. They have a nice selection of craft beers, and Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) on tap. Â Again, another two thumbs up! Â Thursday night is 80's karaoke and they have a DJ on Friday nights.
They don't serve food here, but I've been told they have takeout menus for places that deliver there.
If you grew up in the 80's, do yourself a favor and check this bar out! Â It will be a trip down memory lane accompanied by 80's music and beer.
When we first walked in, I was a little uncertain because it was dark and there were only a few other people in the bar. Throughout the night, though, more people starting coming in which gave it a better feel. They have a dozen or so video games - Pacman, Tron, etc., which are a lot of fun. There is also a whole bookshelf full of fun board games (boggle, connect 4, etc.) that we enjoyed playing. They had a great selection of craft beers and several ciders. Overall a really fun night and I would become a regular if I lived anywhere close by.
Review Source:Kind of an odd location in a little strip mall on a forgotten fringe of this small city, but that just adds to the appeal. The pinball and video games are cheap, a quarter a pop. Beers are not. Weekends they seem to have some noisy-ass rock-n-roll bands and a 5 buck cover, which can be a buzz kill if you're rolling up to play some games.
Wouldn't go crazy far out of my way, beer-only and the pinball machines are a little beat up. As someone else noted, the flippers are weak on all the pinball machines. Otherwise they work pretty well. They've got Bat-man, Hurricane, Black Hole, and Bride of Pin*Bot. (plus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which was out of commission.)
The place is a bit divey and the vibe is kinda nerdy meets trashy, so I felt right at home. Except that I also kinda felt like I crashed someone else's party. At someone else's home.
Anyway, this place is A-OK, so 3 stars. Plus 1 more for giving me somewhere decent to go out in Del., somewhere that's neither a total frat scene, some faux fancy suburban crap, or a godawful theme restaurant.
Favorite game here: Street Fighter II - "TIGER UPPERCUT!"
Lots of reasonably priced, great craft beers (on tap and in can/bottle) and classic arcade, pinball and board games. Even with all the hot arcade games, they're able to keep it a good temperature inside. Regular additional entertainment pretty much every night (karaoke, 80s vinyl DJ, cover band, 80s trivia (pretty hard), retro prom nights, etc).
No kitchen, but the bartenders sell blowpops, cheetos, and the like. They also have delivery menus for those who want chinese or whatever else is nearby. The Golden Girls themed men's room never fails to amuse me, too.
Whether it's pretty empty or packed, I always have fun at 1984.
Pretty cool place eventhough the location is off our normal beaten path of places we go in Wilmington.
Friday nights have a DJ who spins out 80's music with actual vinyl, and he even had "Tenderness", so two stars for that. Â Beers aren't too badly priced, and they have a rather large selection if you're looking for more than light beer. Â Tons of old school arcade games, and an actual change machine from back in the day that gives out quarters.
Nice touch with the Golden Girls wallpaper in the guys' bathroom. Â LOL
There just may be no need for you to go to any other bar in Wilmington: while the Trolley Square scene offers you juiced-up post-collegiates in an aggressive shoving game to either bed the most women or punch the most dudes, 1984, coolly tucked away in a strip just west of the city, offers dive-bar camaraderie, pop-culture nostalgia, and a beer snob's selection of brews. Have you ever wanted to go out and have some fun, but soured on the idea of getting jostled by reactionary fratdouches all night? 1984 is for you. Ever wanted to belly up to a bar and have a friendly conversation where you don't feel uncomfortable using polysyllabic words? 1984 is for you. Do you still like to write stuff on bathroom walls, despite being a mature functioning adult? Amazingly, 1984 is still for you -- they'll even provide the chalk.
As an arcade, a meeting place for Wilmington's cool and unique, and a performance space, 1984 is tops; that it's a bar is almost incidental. Go, immediately, and enjoy it in all it's glory -- I recommend '80s karaoke on Thursday night!
Let's see, a bar with arcade games, board games (including gigantic connect 4), a fantastic beer selection, an edge, vegans, hipsters... Â Am I still in Wilmington?? Â This is a delightful break from the average Wilmington bar. Â The atmosphere is casual and friendly, the beer is great, and you can enjoy your beverage without pretention while playing Ms. Pacman. Â But be warned, there is no liquor, wine, or meal. Â But there is a snack menu and a collection of take-out menus. Â So order some Chinese, have a beer, and play a game.
Review Source:As a child of the 80's as well as a UD Graduate and Newark, DE native something always felt off when heading out to bars like Deer Park and even Logan House. Now in my mid 30's the crowd there always seemed either way younger or way older. I finally have a place where everyone is my age. We all have something in common, a decades worth of pop culture and love of classic arcade games.
Great beers on tap and in bottle and Twinkies go down surprisingly well with a nice cold glass of 16 Mile American Blonde. Â
Where else can you play Connect 4 at the bar, have a beer with your friends and see all of the Golden Girls every time you use the bathroom.
Thursdays and Fridays are the best nights to go. Thursdays are 80's Trivia night hosted by two non-employees who do it just for the love of the decade and this bar. Friday is an 80's DJ Dance Party night. I don't even go for the games. The atmosphere, the staff and friends are enough for me.
1984 is kind a breath of fresh air compared to the more mainstream establishments one finds in Wilmington. It's laidback and friendly, not offputtingly hipstery, yet spares the rest of us from the Snooki clones and frat types. Â A fine dive bar in spirit without the dirtiness. Actually the bathrooms are worth the trip - I won't spoil the surprise...
Tons of quality beers on tap and bottled, Mexican Coca-Cola, Woodchuck cider, Mike's Hard Lemonade, Twinkies, good music, and a bunch of vintage '80s arcade games and pinball. Currently it's beer only, no wine or liquor due to licensing restrictions. They have board games (Scrabble!), crafts night, trivia night, and '80s dance night.
Free parking out front is great so you don't have to worry about finding a space or walking too far. It will kind of be a shame when this place takes off and becomes all crowded and hip (which has apparently already happened since I wrote this) but I wish them the best. Ingenuity! Right here in Delaware!
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