NEW YORK — The Barcade experience has traditionally been built around “classic video games and American craft beer.” Now the company might need to add “in a green setting” to that tagline in order for it to be fully accurate.
Although the company has had an environmentally-friendly focus for years, including operating its locations on wind power, Barcade recently implemented 42 environmental steps at its location in the East Village of New York City to meet the Green Restaurant Association’s certification requirements, and is now rated a 3 Star Certified Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association (“GRA”).
This certification is very much a point of pride for the owners of Barcade.
“We’re very proud of getting this rating from the Green Restaurant Association,” said Barcade CEO Paul Kermizian. “It required a lot of work in terms of overhauling multiple facets of our operations, from switching away from plastics and implementing a composting program, to making sure we have enough vegetarian food options on our menu. But at the end of the day, it was well worth it, as being environmentally friendly is a cause that we very much believe in. Going forward, our goal is to bring all of our other locations up to the GRA’s standards as well.”
The GRA determines how green a bar or restaurant is by ranking an establishment via a point system. Points are awarded in the following categories: disposables, energy, furnishing and building, food, chemical and pollution, waste, and water. Barcade St. Mark’s achieved the 3 Star rating by meeting the certification requirements in each of those categories, as well as by: maximizing water efficiency; not using any Styrofoam; and implementing a comprehensive recycling system, including a composting program (services provided by Reclaimed Organics).
The Green Restaurant Association is an international non-profit organization that has pioneered the Green Restaurant movement by encouraging restaurants to “green” their operations via science-based certification standards.
Operating in 41 states, the GRA works with restaurants, manufacturers, and distributors to fulfill its mission of greening the restaurant industry. The GRA has been recognized by such media outlets as Time Magazine, CNN, the New York Times, NPR, and more.
Barcade first opened in 2004 in a former metal shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with the St. Mark’s location opening in 2014. “The Original Arcade Bar” has since expanded to seven locations and will also be opening in Los Angeles and Detroit in the near future.
