Entry No. 58 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: arcade-play
The Emporium
A community-minded game bar with a setting the owners liken to the film Dazed and Confused. The floor packs in pool tables, a foosball table, a wall of electronic dart boards, pinball and other arcade games, plus mega Jenga and cornhole, and it runs themed nights and specialty drinks. It's the kind of unpretentious local hangout built for staying a while and bouncing between games.
The story
If you ask the owners of this West Campus game bar what kind of place they set out to build, they'll point you straight to the film *Dazed and Confused*. They weren't aiming for a sleek modern taproom or a sanitized mega-bar—they wanted the lingering, unhurried energy of a 1970s local hangout where you show up to waste time productively.
The layout is engineered for bouncing around. The floor packs in pool tables, a dedicated wall of electronic dartboards, foosball, pinball machines, classic arcade cabinets, mega Jenga, and cornhole. Instead of sitting trapped at one high-top all night, you stake out a board or a felt table and drift across the room as games clear out.
It stays simple and community-minded by design. Between specialty drinks, themed nights, and a crowd made up of local regulars and campus-area night owls, it functions as a neighborhood game room with a liquor license—the kind of place where you come to play three rounds of pool and end up staying until closing.
What it's like
Expect a solid 21+ crowd that picks up significantly later in the evening. It's unpretentious enough that nobody cares if your dart throws are wild, but if you want first pick of the pool tables or a specific pinball cabinet, drop in before the late-night rush arrives. Grab a specialty drink from the bar, claim a game, and keep an eye on whichever table you want next.
The move: Claim a pool table, alternate between foosball and electronic darts, and try to beat each other at mega Jenga over specialty drinks.
📍 Before you go 21+ bar atmosphere that fills up later in the evening; confirm which location/hours before heading over.
- 📍 West Campus area, Fort Collins
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Fort Collins, CO (West Campus area)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Pinball Jones — Follow up your pool and dart matches at West Campus by diving into Pinball Jones' basement arcade for 38 machines worth of pinball glass.
- CooperSmith's Poolside — Pitting two distinct Fort Collins billiards scenes against each other makes for a great night—start casual at The Emporium and finish in Old Town Square.
- Old Town Putt — Swap pool felt and electronic dartboards for indoor mini-golf and craft cocktails over in The Exchange.
Good to know
What games are on the floor at The Emporium?
You'll find pool tables, electronic dartboards along the wall, foosball, pinball, arcade cabinets, mega Jenga, and cornhole.
Is there an age limit to get in?
Yes, The Emporium operates as a 21+ bar environment.
Do they run events or specials?
Yes, they host regular themed nights and serve a rotating list of specialty drinks.
Where in Fort Collins is it located?
It's situated in the West Campus area of Fort Collins.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-23