Level up your happiness ratio with a burger, retro games and pink neon at Stella’s Pinball Arcade & Lounge
A Toad Mushroom Sammy with a meaty portobello mushroom cap marinated in house-made balsamic vinaigrette slathered with balsamic onion jam and choice of cheese. Photo by Emily Kemme.
By Emily Kemme
If you’re weary from reading, listening to, talking about or just thinking about the news of the day, put the cares of the world aside, get your game on and head underground for an electrifying dose of pink neon.
In fact, you should specifically search for a place where there is so much devotion to the health benefits of glow, even the bathroom faucets turn glo-pink and green when the water is running.
Stella’s Pinball Arcade & Lounge offers classic arcade and retro games, along with some of the best burgers in town. Photo Emily Kemme.
Curious? Good, because Stella’s Pinball Arcade & Lounge in downtown Greeley is waiting underground for you. Step downstairs below street level on 9th Street and take a trip back in time to the days when the toughest decision you had to make was which pinball machine to drop the first of many game tokens into.
While you’re at it, bring the kids (or grandkids) along.
There’s Jurassic Park, Guitar Hero, Iron Maiden, Stranger Things, tabletop Pac-Man, air hockey and a truly retro experience: Skee-Ball. But while choosing which game to play is your first tough decision of the evening, even more complex is — given that there is likely only one choice — which burger or sammy should you order to eat?
The fact that you’re not limited to grabbing handfuls of popcorn and sipping sweet Cola is what makes Stella’s a true throwback mecca.
For burger lovers, start with a Boss burger with your choice of cheese; you can make it a double — the burgers are smashed and grilled thin patty style, making them crispy on the edges with a juicy center.
But since this is a gaming mecca, level up and order a Mega Boss burger. Pick your favorite game hero, cheeseburger-style: there’s a Captain America cheeseburger, Hulk Smash Steak cheeseburger with A1 sauce and melty cheddar over fries, and Sonic Bleu with — you guessed it, gorgonzola, cheddar and onion rings. For the fire seekers, toggle between a scorching Human Torch or Charizard Sriracha burger, or order both to compare heat notes with a buddy. Then there’s the breakfast of villains — the Bowser Breakfast Burger conquers the kingdom with two eggs cradled with sourdough toast, cheddar and BLT fixin’s.
All of the Mega Boss burgers can be ordered with either beef or grilled chicken.
The menu’s vegetarian offerings won’t leave you feeling like you’re limited to nibbling salad: in particular, the Toad Mushroom sammy features a meaty portobello mushroom cap marinated in house-made balsamic vinaigrette that’s slathered with balsamic onion jam and choice of cheese.
Or just snack your way through a session and make do with a Level Up big pretzel and a cup of Big Goblin Mac-N-Cheese. Then wrap up the Mario Party in winning star style with a slice of rainbow cake for dessert.
Kid’s meals are served with a drink, fries and fresh fruit; your kiddos will never stop begging you to return for another round of games once they see the on-site ICEE machine.
Game playing makes you thirsty, and Stella’s can help defeat that problem. Choose from a selection of craft and domestic brews on tap and in cans, or pick your favorite Nintendo Super Mario Bros. character cocktail from the full bar. For the kid in you, go Boss and order a classic kid-style quencher that’s all grown up — a choice of double liquor mixed with blue Icee (Blue Wizard) or red Icee (Red Dragon).
Washing your hands in glowing hot-pink and green tap water won’t make them any cleaner than clear water. But like time spent in a world of fantasy, it’ll tickle your funny bone. And that’s certainly worth a game token, or maybe even two.
What to know about Stella’s Pinball Arcade & Lounge
Order the breakfast of villains — the Bowser Breakfast Burger conquers the kingdom with two eggs cradled with sourdough toast, cheddar and BLT fixin’s. Photo by Emily Kemme.
Hours: Tue: 5 - 10 p.m. | Wed, Thur: 5 p.m. - midnight | Fri: 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. | Sat: 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. | Sun: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
To Find Stella’s: 802 9th St. (below street level)
Get in touch: (970) 584-8054 | info@stellaspinball.com | Stella’s Pinball Arcade & Lounge
Private parties: Stella’s welcomes private parties and large groups and offers Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond Party Packages.
Events: Along with arcade games, Stella’s takes the word play up another level, offering karaoke nights on Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., and featured events, such as Stella’s Stand Up Underground Comedy Showcase on Saturday, June 11, and Saturday, June 18, hosted by Tobias Livingston and featuring Kelsey Rosen.