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which are unique to Oregon and beyond.
“We have games here you won’t find
anywhere else West of the Mississippi,”
Liotta said.
The Japanese four-player sit-down
game Dariusburst is one of only about
10 in the United States. Galactix also
boasts one of two Les Schwab pinball
machines in the world.
The soundtrack reverberating
through the spaceship features 60 dif-
ferent actors who intersperse elec-
tronic music with stories, notices and
announcements, giving the experience a
theatrical feel.
The duo met in 2018 at Reveille
Ciderworks.
They fleshed out an idea for an
arcade and taphouse that would focus
equally on beer and cider.
Liotta has been collecting arcade
games for two decades and drew inspi-
ration for Galactix from the New York-
based Barcade and Portland’s Ground
Kontrol.
Liotta had planned to put in an arcade
in the back basement space of the build-
ing from the outset. The building’s
street-level suites host the South Bay
Wild Fish House, Terra Stones, Wild
Roots Massage and Reclamation Mar-
ketplace antique shop.
Before the installation of its signage,
sometime in February, Galactix can
still feel like a fortuitous discovery to a
casual passerby.
Even though it has only been in
operation since early January, the ven-
ture has exceeded all founders’ expecta-
tions, particularly given the limitations
the pandemic imposed on the hospitality
industry. Galactix boasts a new HVAC
system with hospital-grade air filtration.
“We want all our patrons and employees
to feel safe and comfortable,” Towsey-
French said.
Serious gamers, classic arcade nostal-
gics and seekers of something different
on the North Coast have begun to flock
to the arcade and taphouse. Up to 49
people can fit on the Galactix deck, with
minors over 13 allowed until 5 p.m.
“It’s also a fun date-night place,”
Liotta said. “And an escape hatch,”
Towsey-French added.
The bar at Galactix.
Galactix
262 9th St., Astoria
Visit facebook.com/thegalactix or
www.thegalactix.com for hours and
information.
Owners Jeremy Towsey-French and Marcus Liotta at Galactix.
18 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
This line of pinball machines makes up just a part of the arcade at Galactix.