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{Apparently 'Barcade' is trademarked! The Outpost was informed via email from a representative of Barcade, "The Original Arcade Bar", a chain of arcade bars that has been operating since 2004 and has owned the trademark on the term since 2007. The closest Barcade to Crescent City is in Los Angeles, according to a Google search.}

Port O’Pints Brewing Company owner John Kirk is eyeing the old Englund Marine building at the Crescent City Harbor for possible expansion.

Nearly four months after he floated the idea of opening a beer garden at the port, Kirk told commissioners he envisioned turning the 5,460 square-foot building at 201 Citizens Dock Road into a "barcade" and pool hall.

There would be shuffleboard and classic games such as Asteroids and pinball, he said, plus six to 10 pool tables.

“We would not be making beer here, but we would be serving our beer here,” Kirk told Harbor Commissioners last week. “We do want to have food. I think food and beer go better together. Eighty percent of the hotel rooms in this community are within walking distance, so it’s a safer scenario than people coming out to Port o’ Pints and driving.”

Commissioners unanimously authorized Crescent City Harbormaster Tim Petrick to negotiate a five-year lease with Kirk. However, they stipulated that the agreement come before the Board of Commissioners for final approval.

It was commissioner Harry Adams, who asked that the negotiated lease be brought back to the Board of Commissioners for final approval after his colleague Brian Stone raised concerns about the Harbor District potentially underselling itself.

“But we need to consistently look at what is the best use of the property and the actual value that is there,” Stone said. “Because once we’ve leased it out, we can’t just say, ‘Oh, well you know, property values have gone up on everything else and now we need to adjust.’”

The base rent would be $2,730 per month, or 50 cents per square foot, according to a lease agreement term sheet between the Harbor District and Port O’Pints. Petrick said there are still details to be ironed out between the two parties.

Kirk, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Napa Valley, purchased the Tsunami Lanes Family Entertainment Center — the local bowling alley — and Port O’Pints Brewing Company earlier this year with his wife Cynthia Parenteau.

He said it was the “right choice” to keep Tsunami Lanes operating as a bowling alley and called the brewery at 1215 Northcrest Drive a “stereotypical Cheers” with amazing beer. Port O’Pints holds Karaoke nights and an open mic night that’s been operating for 13 to 14 weeks straight, Kirk said.

“It’s almost a comedy club at this point,” he said. “Some people just come up with a topic and tell their stories in prose, but it’s just an opportunity for people to come and enjoy themselves. And it’s getting extremely busy.”

But the space is small, Kirk said, and it’s not easily accessible. Investing in the harbor could be an excellent opportunity, he said.

Kirk had approached the Crescent City Harbor District in August about opening a beer garden and a food truck pod between the Chart Room and Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya on Anchor Way.
While they liked the concept, commissioners were raised concerns about traffic on that side of the port and said the proposed space was too narrow.

Last week, Kirk said Petrick had reached out to him about developing a business at the harbor, but ultimately felt the beer garden and food truck pod was “sort of rushed.” Turning the Old Englund Marine building, which has been vacant for about seven years, is very different, Kirk said.

Though bringing in a food truck isn’t completely off the table, he said.

“The reason I say that is because I’m looking at a beautiful food truck that has a fire on the back of it, cold room storage and prep room inside,” Kirk said. “It would be very easy to do that, but then to put in a full kitchen.”

Though he voted in favor of letting Petrick negotiate a lease agreement with Kirk, Harbor Commissioner Brian Stone asked his colleagues if they were undervaluing the property the Port O’Pints owner wants to rent.

Stone referred to a series of appraisals the Harbor District conducted in 2019. That appraisal determined that a 2-acre site on the north side of the inner boat basin was worth $1 million, Stone said, adding that a potential hotel was planned for that spot. Another site in the same general area appraised at $400,000, he said.

Stone also asked about repairs that may be needed at the building and whether those repairs would be the Harbor District’s responsibility.

Assistant Harbormaster Mike Rademaker said an inspection was conducted at 201 Citizens Dock Road and no major repairs are anticipated.

When Stone pressed the issue, Petrick asked him if he wanted to tear the building down instead of renting it out.

“I want the Board to be cognizant of what they’re doing,” Stone replied. “The parking lot is a question: Will we resurface that parking lot or chip and seal it? How much is that going to cost us? This place is prone to tsunamis, should there be a requirement to have flood insurance? I’m just asking the questions.”

According to Stone, poor contracts has gotten the Harbor District in trouble previously. He said he wanted to make sure everybody’s happy.

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