Retro Recess to open 10,000 s/f flagship at the Metropolitan Building

Long Island City, NY Retro Recess is coming to the Metropolitan Building in Long Island City. Created by longtime LIC resident and internationally recognized vintage arcade collector Bill Kloos, Retro Recess is designed as a welcoming, multi-generational space where nostalgia, play, and community come together.

Retro Recess is expected to open at the Metropolitan Building in a 10,000 s/f space later this year with additional details to be announced.

The tenant was represented by Jason Chiu of Edge Realty Advisors. 

“Retro Recess isn’t about flashing lights or endless rows of machines — it’s about recreating the joy of how games were experienced growing up,” said Bill Kloos, founder of Retro Recess. “I wanted to build a place where parents can share something they loved with their kids, where neighbors can meet, and where people can genuinely unplug and have fun together. The concept is intentionally community-driven and inclusive, reflecting the evolving demographic of Long Island City — a neighborhood with a growing population of families, creatives, and longtime residents seeking more neighborhood-scale entertainment options. The design incorporates vintage furniture, wood paneling, retro décor, and themed rooms that evoke childhood memories, alongside a casual food and full beverage program inspired by classic comfort staples. 

“Igloo specializes in working with founders and operators who are deeply connected to the neighborhoods they serve,” said Adam Joly, co-founder and managing director of Igloo. “Retro Recess is a great example of how a personal passion, when paired with the right space and support, can become a meaningful destination for the community. The Metropolitan Building is evolving into a collection of thoughtful, experience-driven concepts, and we’re excited to see that vision take shape.”

Retro Recess is one of several new creative, experience-driven concepts launching at the newly renovated Metropolitan Building — part of a broader vision to reimagine the property as a hub for neighborhood-oriented businesses and cultural destinations. The transformation and curation of the building’s commercial spaces have been led by Igloo, the NYC–based brokerage, design, and construction management platform known for helping businesses translate strong ideas into physical spaces that resonate with their communities.

More than a traditional arcade, Retro Recess reimagines the feeling of growing up in the 1980s and 1990s — inviting guests to step into a setting inspired by basements, living rooms, and neighborhood hangouts of decades past. The space will feature over 70 classic arcade games, a curated selection of rare and museum-quality machines, pinball, skeeball, console gaming, billiards, darts and thoughtfully designed environments that feel personal, warm, and lived-in. 

The Metropolitan Building’s latest evolution reflects a broader shift toward curated, neighborhood-sensitive commercial spaces that prioritize experience, authenticity, and long-term value.