Level 1 Arcade Bar Is Coming Back to Gilbert at The Gilmore

If you remember Level 1 Arcade Bar from its original Downtown Gilbert location, there’s good news.

It’s coming back.

Level 1 is returning to Gilbert, this time at The Gilmore near Val Vista Drive and Germann Road.

The original Downtown Gilbert location became a favorite for people looking for something a little different. After five years, the location closed when its lease ended in January 2025, while the owners continued operating their Downtown Mesa location.

Now they’re bringing the concept back to Gilbert, and the new location sounds like it could be even bigger.

A Bigger Level 1 Is Coming

Level 1 is known for its collection of classic arcade games, pinball machines, food, drinks, and nostalgic atmosphere.

According to one of the owners, the new Gilbert location will be larger than the original Downtown Gilbert space and will include a 2,000-square-foot balcony overlooking the common area at The Gilmore. The owners have said they are currently working on the buildout and hope to open around December 2026.

That makes this more than simply bringing back the old location.

It’s a new version of Level 1 in a much larger development.

Why The Gilmore Makes Sense

The Gilmore is a 35-acre mixed-use development at Val Vista Drive and Germann Road, just off Loop 202.

The project is planned to include approximately 200,000 square feet of grocery, restaurant and retail space, 300 luxury apartment homes, and a hotel.

And Level 1 won't be coming back to an empty shopping center.

The Gilmore already has a growing lineup of businesses, including Better Buzz Coffee, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, Nook Kitchen, Over Easy, Phantom Fox Beer Co., Rebel Wine Lounge, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, Safeway, and several other restaurants and retailers.

That mix is what makes the project interesting.

You can grab coffee.

Meet friends for dinner.

Get ice cream.

And eventually spend the evening playing arcade games and pinball.

A Different Kind of Gilbert Hangout

One thing I like about Level 1 coming back is that it gives The Gilmore another entertainment component.

A lot of shopping centers are built around restaurants, retail and services.

Level 1 adds something people can actually do.

The original concept was built around bringing back the feeling of the classic arcade, with restored arcade and pinball machines alongside food and drinks.

That makes it a natural fit for a development that's being designed around gathering spaces, restaurants and entertainment.

The Bigger Picture for Gilbert

The return of Level 1 is also another example of how quickly the area around Val Vista and Germann is changing.

The Gilmore is expected to bring a mix of retail, dining, entertainment, housing and hospitality to this part of Gilbert, with retailers expected to begin opening in the latter half of 2026.

As more businesses open, this could become one of those places where residents don't just stop by to run an errand.

They actually stay for a while.

And that's probably the most interesting part.

Level 1 Is Coming Home

For people who remember the original Level 1 in Downtown Gilbert, the new location is a chance to bring back something familiar while putting it in a completely different setting.

The new Gilbert location is planned for The Gilmore at Val Vista Drive and Germann Road, with the owners currently targeting an opening around December 2026.

The Gilmore is already shaping up to be one of the bigger new lifestyle developments in Gilbert, and Level 1 adds another reason for people to check it out.

It will be interesting to see what the finished space looks like once everything comes together.

For now, Gilbert can officially say one thing:

Level 1 is coming home.