PEMBROKE — Walking into the Retro City Arcade is like taking a step back in time when gaming consoles were at their peak, and arcades were filled with youth looking for something to do after school and during the summer.

That was the goal of the business’ owner Ryan Locklear, a 31-year-old Pembroke man, who made it his mission to bring the classic hobby back to his hometown of Pembroke.

“I wanted to set them back 20 years ago to ‘99, 2000, 2001,” Locklear said. “I didn’t want it to be too flashy. I wanted to bring a sense of nostalgia — to a more simpler time.”

Located at 518 Union Chapel Road in Pembroke, the classic arcade may not be the first, but it is the only of its kind located in Robeson County. The nearest classic gaming arcade to Pembroke is the Stop Button Bar in Hope Mills about 40 minutes away, Locklear said.

“They’re more popular in larger cities,” Locklear said. “There’s a higher population density between younger people, younger adults.”

For this reason, Locklear brought Retro City to Pembroke, and for the simple fact that Pembroke is home.

“There’s not a lot to do in Pembroke and I’m trying to change that,” Locklear said.

Although children are welcomed and encouraged to play at the arcade, the business is geared toward an adult audience to offer a sense of nostalgia for customers in their mid-to-late 20 and up, Locklear said.

“But, everyone is welcome,” Locklear said.

Retro City has about 25 classic arcade machines on hand with a wide range of games like Mortal Kombat, 3rd Strike, Jambo! Safari!, Point Blank, and Daytona USA. Games like Trophy Hunting Bear and Moose and Fisherman’s Bait are also on hand.

“I had to buy that because this is Robeson County and people love to fish,” Locklear said.

Games are set to freeplay so patrons pay a small entry fee — free for ages 5 and under, $5 for ages 6-12, and $7 for 13 and up — to play unlimited games between the hours of 3 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Fridays and Saturdays entry fees are an addition $3.

Locklear has been a fan of classic arcade games his “entire life.” After graduating from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke he began his hunt collecting classic machines.

“I’ve always been a fan of arcades,” Locklear said. “I always knew once I got out of college I would find myself a couple of arcade machines and it was like an addiction. I kept buying more.”

Over the course of five years, he continued to accumulate more arcade machines throughout the state from former arcade operators, businesses like laundromats, gas stations, and even collectors who are looking to rid their homes of the bulky machines.

“I’d be in certain areas and machines would pop up for sale like around Hickory or Charlotte,” Locklear said.

The result is the dozens of machines collected and now offered at Retro City Arcade.

With skilled-gaming businesses popping up throughout Robeson County, Locklear has had the difficult task of eliminating the stereotype that comes with arcades. He finds that getting people through the door is the ultimate mind changer.

“When they come in here they’re like ‘Wow, this is in Pembroke,” Locklear said.

Besides offering a sense of nostalgia, Locklear wanted to offer a place of socialization in his hometown, something that online video gaming can’t offer.

“Those type of games, it takes the companionship out of it,” Locklear said. “You don’t get that online. A lot of time you’re at home in your bedroom mashing a button whereas here you can talk to people, there’s a social experience. You can smack talk in person.”

Those are the reasons he was drawn to the classic way of gaming, and that’s what he experienced when he played in tournaments — a sense of camaraderie with a bit, or a lot, of smack talk.

“It was all in good fun though,” he said.