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Picture spending your time before the next flight enjoying complimentary retro video games while savoring delightful small dishes such as poke nachos and pulled pork sliders, along with a handcrafted cocktail. Thanks to the foresight of H. Lamar Willis, Jonathan Ford, and SSP America, this aspiration is now a reality at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Willis and Ford aimed to provide something fresh for travelers to enjoy while at the airport, resulting in Sky Gamerz, a gaming lounge currently operating in N Concourse, featuring retro video games alongside a complete food and beverage menu. With its dim, inviting interior, highlighted by pink and green neon lights that reflect the retro gaming theme, Willis and Ford have crafted an ideal environment to unwind and indulge in some classic entertainment while awaiting a flight.
When Willis and Ford initially presented the concept of a gaming lounge to airports, they referenced the increasing and expansive number of individuals engaging in video games. “A multitude of people are playing video games on their mobile phones, or with family, friends, or children, even if they didn’t engage with video games as children,” Willis remarked. “Tens of millions of individuals are participating in and purchasing video games annually, and the count continues to surge dramatically.”
In curating games for Sky Gamerz, Willis emphasized he did not want to skew too heavily toward gaming or nerd culture initially. The retro video games offered at Sky Gamerz are crafted to attract a diverse audience, particularly business travelers, who make up the largest segment. Many of them grew up playing Atari, Ms. Pac-Man, or Donkey Kong. He plans to eventually incorporate newer games into Sky Gamerz’ menu.
“Retro games are always a dependable choice because what we’ve observed is that even children enjoy retro video games. Titles like Donkey Kong, Ms. Pacman, and Frogger are games that kids may be unfamiliar with but are thrilled by. The best part is that at SEA, we do not charge to play. This minimizes the risk and opens the chance to try something new.”
From trucks to airports
Similar to Sky Gamerz’ business traveler demographic, Willis grew up playing video games now regarded as retro. Atari was his introduction to this venture, and over time he progressed to other consoles like Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, Xbox, and portable gaming devices like Nintendo Switch.
His personal enthusiasm transitioned into a business opportunity when he and Ford established Peach State Gamerz, a company providing gaming trucks for corporate and individual gaming events throughout Georgia. Willis’ son (at the time eight years old) first familiarized him with the idea of a gaming truck after encountering one at a birthday celebration and prompted Willis and Ford, seasoned entrepreneurs, to acquire their own. Although Willis initially dismissed it, after seeing a second gaming truck at another party, he thought “that is brilliant,” leading to the inception of Peach State Gamerz. After thriving with Peach State Gamerz, Willis and Ford expanded their vision into the realm of air travel. They had the experience of introducing businesses at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and believed a gaming lounge would be a fantastic addition to an airport.
“There are limited entertainment options in airports,” Willis stated. “To be successful, we wanted to incorporate a food and beverage aspect as well. Quality food and drink combined with gaming hasn’t really been realized anywhere in the airport world. It’s the first of its kind, and the food and aesthetics turned out extraordinarily well. It’s a chance to be entertained while enjoying excellent food.”
First location
Willis and Ford are also preparing to launch a Sky Gamerz at ATL, but SEA is the inaugural location to commence operations. Willis indicated he sought a location at SEA because of its strong ties to the gaming industry. Seattle hosts PAX West, the world’s largest gaming convention. Additionally, every major corporation with a gaming component has a presence in Seattle.
Willis collaborated with SSP America, which manages restaurants at airports throughout the U.S., for five or six years on other projects before discussing the concept of a Sky Gamerz collaboration.
“When my partner and I contemplated bringing someone on board to collaborate with us, SSP was the first company that came to mind because they treat their associates fairly and are straightforward to work with. They also adhered closely to our design vision when they constructed this venue. That was really crucial for us not to lose the essence of the project,” remarked Willis. “I am eagerly anticipating serving the SEA community in a manner that generates excitement and enthusiasm. I hope this acts as a launching platform for many others across the nation.”
Joe Pucci, Director of Operations at SEA Airport for SSP, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Willis and Ford’s vision to fruition. “I’m looking forward to guests and travelers arriving and being astonished, not just by the concept of Sky Gamerz, but by the culinary offerings available there. The food is prepared fresh every day in the restaurant, and additionally, we have some exceptional beverages crafted by our beverage team that are a perfect match.”
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