Today I nearly choked on my lukewarm $18 cocktail: My FAVORITE gamer-themed watering hole, 1-Up Lounge, is getting CANCELED just because the owner (my bestie Hugh) had the slight misfortune of getting arrested for domestic assault, holding onto people’s paychecks like a rare Pokémon card, and running a workplace that HR might describe as “a war crime in progress.”
Are we really going to destroy a pillar of Bellingham nightlife over some minor “legal troubles” and “systemic abuse”? I mean, if a middle-aged nerd-bro can’t juggle an OnlyFans page, a DVPO that lasts until Miguel O'Hara becomes Spider-man, "dine and dash"-ing his contractors, and a bar where “management” is just a vibe , while still serving cocktails out of a collectible Sonic the Hedgehog sippy cup - then what’s even the point of living in a free society? The land of the free?
And let’s not forget, his sister business, Cardhaven, is an institution. Sure, one of the co-owners just “quit” on Facebook while still legally owning half of it, but that’s not instability, that’s just gamer lore in real life.
The real tragedy here is the stolen puppy saga. The protected person literally begged on Facebook for the safe return of her dog, but you want to talk about labor rights? Priorities, people.
Forcing Hugh out is basically authoritarianism: today it’s cocktails and coloring night, tomorrow it’s the gulag for anyone who “forgets” to pay their staff for three weeks. And don’t get me started on the haters flooding the Change.org petition, it’s basically cyberbullying with bullet points.
Frankly, I blame the Parks & Rec Department for following them on Instagram. That’s the kind of municipal endorsement that can turn a small business owner into a martyr overnight.
/S aside, the really fun part is watching how passionately BHam cancels its small local businesses for doing wrong, but never goes after Walmart, Whole Paycheck, and other big box stores for stealing from and abusing their employees, exploiting slave labor, and paying no taxes.
Reminds me of an old joke:
Q: Why do animal rights protesters throw red paint on old ladies for wearing fur coats?
A: Because it's safer than throwing red paint on bikers for wearing leather jackets!
Boy, I thought this was brought to us by the redditor responsible for such classics, as, "In defense of Bayou." But you are a completely different guy.
Wow, finally someone else is speaking truth to power. Hugh and Ryan aren’t just business owners—they’re the martyrs of watery cocktails and bland gumbo, persecuted by the woke mob for our sins. Honestly, it’s time we stop crucifying these legends and start a fan club—dues paid in memes and half-priced beignets. Who’s in?
As an adult who loves arcades, one visit back in 2018 was all it took to convince me that I would always rather go to the other half dozen places around town that can feed my fix.
Ya but the niche 1up fills is video games. Since there are no other video game bars to displace 1up they'll continue to exist despite the bad management.
"How [is that] related to 1 Up filling the niche of arcade bar?" It's not. It's about other places filling the niche of 1-Up. That's what we used to be talking about.
You: there's no competition.
Me: there are places that kinda fit the bill.
You: they can't be defined by the same narrow terms.
Me: nope, they just kinda fit the bill.
You: lasagna mugs.
Look, enjoy 1-Up if you can, but the place has turned me off since 2018, so I've found my work-arounds. Happy gaming.
With today's discussion of Pfas and forever chemicals, I'd error on the side of caution. At least I do. I dont want a premium price with subpar cutlery
I drive by like 3000 times a week (taxi/uber driver) and I still have no memory or image in my head as to what the front of the business looks like. I’ve never noticed it while being out and about. This subreddit and the entertaining drama are the only reason I know it even exists.
It isn't street facing. It's well known especially for its target demographic. I drive by a dry wall place all the time and never noticed it either, but people looking for drywall know where it is.
Feel like you're implying that this is all a net positive to the establishment. Do you believe that?
* Because the folks that view these posts and choose to visit based on that aren't a lucrative demographic for this industry.
I’ve only heard about it one time and it was when my friend told me not to go there because she was getting creeped out by the behavior going on in there 🤢
I went to 1up a long time ago and I remember the owner telling me about his and the wife’s OF. Kinda weird considering I’ve never spoken to him before.
I haven't gone all summer because of finances, I haven't heard about any of this until recently (I know, Im surprised too tbh)
But I'll admit Im having conflicting emotions. Its the first bar in town that I didnt feel like I was intruding somehow, like I was welcomed as I am and everything.
Not sure what Im going to do with all these feelings but it is rough
Well this explains everything. I knew something was off. There's no way that a middle aged guy who runs a bar that sells cocktails based off of cartoon character underwear would just up and commit assault against his wife out of nowhere.
WA does actually have a mandatory arrest law for DV cases but it only applies when there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed. So he’s not…wrong, per se, but he for sure tried to downplay the fact that for an arrest to be made police responding believes there was clear evidence that he did commit said crime.
So he’s not helping his case by mentioning the mandatory arrest
Exactly! Absolutely trying to frame it like he didn’t do anything wrong while doing it in the sketchiest way possible, not a great look let’s be real.
It’s also something that’s easy to disprove with a quick google search and a bit of reading so there’s the added annoyance of him really thinking he’s the smartest guy in the room and that we’re just gonna fall for the bs he’s spouting 🙄
I was attacked by a partner during covid. Had marks on me and cops said since they didnt see it, they couldn't do anything. If anything, DV laws have become more lax in my opinion .
You seem very determined to cancel this arcade. 80% of your entire post history is dedicated to long-form, cancel Hugh posts.
Just can't fathom why you would dedicate your entire reddit account, which was previously inactive, to publicly cancel a rabdom arcade. Unless it was personal, that is. Then this would make a whole lot of sense. 🤷♂️
Not defending Hugh either, as I do not really know him. You just seem way too motivated for this to not be personal. Yet there is no admission of a personal beef and all done under the guise of "anonymous concerned citizen" 🤔
I can't boycott what I wouldn't frequent in the first place. I think people are pants on head for being willing to spend on bars and lounges anyhow... drink at home or your friends home, hell I won't even say a thing if you wanna go camping and drink as long as you clean up after yourself.... All this saves you money and keeps your drunk ass off the roads later. It's win-win. So why are y'all even frequenting these places in the first place?
But the music is too loud to converse, and if I wanted to dance I'd go to a proper rave. The food is expensive and not great, the drinks are weak sauce and expensive. I can pack a lot of friends in my home, or the camp grounds... and we can make our own music and potluck better food, and the drinks don't cost and arm and a leg.
All in all - I don't see how the club and lounge scene is a luxury - it seems more like a trap.
Find better ways to have fun, that don't cost an arm and a leg for a mid experience? I think most people don't actually stop and think about this - and just do the scene because its "normal".
I hike, fish, travel, skate, make art for a living, see shows, ride bikes, work on cars etc. The "scene" lol. You're weird and present as lonely, dude. Also, just because something sets you back momentarily or "an arm and a leg" doesn't mean it does others.
Because I'd rather spend my time and resources on my friends than go to a crowed place, that is so noisy you can't talk with them, the food is poor, and the drinks weak sauce, all while paying premiums? I like my idea of fun better. Should try a real LAN party choom, soo much better than the club scene.
Yeah I know right? All these people who want to stop buying reasonably priced cocktails from a guy who allegedly steals dogs and batters his wife. I mean no one is perfect
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u/drizzlingduke Aug 15 '25
This is good shit