Some projects instantly make you want to pull out your credit card. Memory Club is one of them. A bar dedicated to the 1990s, an arcade room, a restoration workshop for arcade cabinets — all housed inside a renovated former factory in Villeurbanne.

The original idea is simple and incredibly effective: what if we created a place where the 1990s never disappeared? Not just a vague inspiration, not a couple of vintage posters slapped on a wall for decoration — a full immersion. Old CRT televisions playing classic TV shows, magazines we all remember from our younger days, and pop culture references hidden in every corner.

The arcade room we all dreamed about

Time Crisis, Mortal Kombat, Dragon's Lair 2, Ridge Racer — around twenty arcade cabinets featuring timeless classics, seven pinball machines including several vintage ones, and free entry with credits starting at just €0.50. For Recalbox users used to running everything from the comfort of their living room, it’s a reminder that some things can’t truly be emulated: the smell of an arcade, the heavy sound of a pinball machine being mercilessly abused, and the shame of getting beaten at Street Fighter by a complete stranger in front of ten people.

Familiar faces

What makes this project especially close to our hearts is that it’s partly led by people we’ve already had the pleasure of meeting. Kevin and the Art'cade association — with whom we previously shared their appearance at Paris Games Week 2025 — are part of the adventure. For more than eight years, Art'cade has been restoring and preserving original arcade machines with a level of care that can only be admired. At Memory Club, they will run a 60m² workshop entirely dedicated to this passion: several machines are already being restored, including an Astro City and a Naomi. For purists, that’s almost as exciting as the bar itself.

Art'cade will be joined by Héni & Paul from La Cité des Halles and Vitamine 7, creators of hybrid venues in Lyon, along with Maxime from Lieux Solides, a specialist in transforming vacant spaces into lively community hubs. A strong team, complementary skills, and a shared vision.

A project that needs your support

Memory Club is scheduled to open in September 2026. The total budget stands at €70,000, with €55,000 already secured. The Ulule campaign aims to fund the final stretch — renovation work, interior setup, and decoration. In return, contributors can get some very fitting rewards: a limited-edition token, a screen-printed T-shirt with a distinctly 90s vibe, a collector’s glass, or even an ultra-limited edition IPA from Lyon-based brewery Saint Cru featuring artwork created especially for the occasion.

This place will also belong, in some way, to all of you and to the shared passion we continue trying to keep alive in different ways. And that’s something you can’t put a price on.

Source: Ulule Campaign — Memory Club