Bristol's First Arcade Bar Moved Into a Taproom That Was Already There

The beer taps at 212 Mill Street went quiet on June 28. That was the day Naked Brewing closed its Bristol Borough taproom. According to Levittown Now, the brewery announced the closing in May. Less than five months later, the same two-level building is set to reopen on Nov. 20 as Level Up Arcade+Bar. It will have more than 30 pinball machines and arcade games, bars on both floors, and a milkshake counter.

On Radcliffe Street, a local developer is planning a much bigger arcade-and-sports-bar complex by the river. That one needs a state grant, structural repairs, and new building systems before anyone plays a game. Bristol's turn toward family entertainment is arriving on two streets at two speeds. The faster one is Mill Street, where the building was already standing and ready for a new tenant.

What's Going Into 212 Mill Street

Richboro resident Chris Kinsey owns Level Up. He told the Bucks County Courier Times that he built the concept as a safe, welcoming place for all ages. He also said, "I want the food to be as much of reason for people to come as the games."

Here's what has been announced for the inside:

• Killer Queen, a 10-player strategy game, is the headline game.
• A retro nook with couches and classic Nintendo and Sega consoles.
• Bars on both floors pouring cocktails, mocktails, wine, and craft beer from Conshohocken Brewing Co., Space Cadet, and Broken Goblet.
• A food menu of appetizers, salads, handhelds, and shareable plates. Earlier BUCKSCO Today coverage listed smashburgers, hand-cut fries, wings, tacos, street-corn dip, cauliflower, Nan's mac and cheese, and meatballs, plus vegan and children's options.
• A private room with a large projection screen for parties, family movie days, and gaming competitions.

The venue's website gives the house rule: kid-friendly until 9 p.m. every day, 21 and over after 9 p.m. That splits the night between families early and adults later. It's a different kind of evening than a taproom offered, and it runs in the same room.

Why Mill Street Got There First

Mill Street had a long way to come. More than half its storefronts sat empty in 2000, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, as cited in BUCKSCO Today's report on Level Up. Since then, the borough has added a waterfront dock and a growing mix of restaurants, bars, and shops. By 2026, a closed business on Mill Street gets taken over quickly instead of joining a row of empty windows.

The street's dining lineup shows how full it is. Visit Bristol Borough's restaurant directory lists Mill Street Cantina at 101 Mill St., Cafe Bombay at 233 Mill St., Itri Wood Fired Pizza Bar at 310 Mill St., and Drift on Mill at 313/315 Mill St. Level Up's 212 address sits in the middle of that run. Plenty of places to eat line the street. The arcade adds something to do before or after.

The timeline matters too. Naked Brewing blamed rising operating costs and a changing craft beer market when it announced the closing. A new operator with a different concept signed on and set an opening date within one season. Compared with the other arcade planned in town, that's fast.

Radcliffe Street's Bigger, Slower Version

Bristol-based B. Mazzocchi Development is putting at least $6.5 million into three projects on Radcliffe Street, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal, as summarized by BUCKSCO Today. Two of the three projects reuse old bank branches. The third is the entertainment venue.

BUCKSCO Today describes the Radcliffe Hotel as the borough's only hotel. The 244 project is estimated at $2 million to $3 million.

The plans for 109 Radcliffe call for a 4,000-square-foot sports bar, stationary food trucks with picnic tables, an arcade, a 3,500-square-foot restaurant, and a rooftop deck facing the Delaware River. Mazzocchi called it "a mini Dave and Buster's," as reported by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The scope of work explains the slower pace. In July 2026, Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration announced $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program money to turn 109 Radcliffe into a family entertainment complex. The grant covers structural renovation, accessibility upgrades, and new building systems. The two arcade concepts are similar on paper. Mill Street's got to an opening date first because its building was ready for a new tenant.

November Runs Through Mill and Radcliffe

Level Up's target date lands one week before the borough's biggest holiday weekend, and those events run through the blocks around 212 Mill. Here's the calendar from publish day forward:

The Nov. 15 stroll is the last of six Sunday Strolls on the Visit Bristol Borough calendar for 2026. The earlier dates were April 26, May 17, June 28, Sept. 27, and Oct. 25. The June 28 stroll fell on Naked Brewing's last day in the taproom. The Nov. 15 stroll will pass the same address five days before its next tenant's announced opening.

The parade is run by the Bristol Borough Christmas Parade Committee, which posts details on its parade site. The tree lighting is listed on the borough's events page. Bristol Riverside Theatre at 120 Radcliffe Street keeps going after the parade. A Christmas Story: The Play runs from Dec. 1 into January, and the Songbook concerts follow in mid-December. On Thanksgiving weekend, the tree at Mill and Radcliffe, a parade route that includes Mill Street, and the theater on Radcliffe all share downtown with the new arcade at 212 Mill.

Whoever moves into the old bank branches and the building at 109 Radcliffe will help decide what Bristol's riverfront looks like after this season. If you own a building on Mill or Radcliffe Street, or you're wondering what a former taproom or bank branch could become, Philly Home Advisors and our CRE team can walk you through the numbers and the options. Schedule a consultation.