Gaming lounges have come and gone in the NYC area. Our homies at Allhiphop.com had a gaming party last year at GameTimeNation. The place was HORRIBLE, dirty, and was in need of some serious cleaning. Well that place no longer exists. But a new breed of gaming lounge has opened up in Harlem. Just a short trip on the #2 train to 135th st will lead you right to VS Harlem. The owner, Shawn T. Hurdle-Arana, was inspired by his love of video games and the need to get all of his gaming friends out of his house. “My house was over run with my video game playing friends. So I decided why not create a space in my own neighborhood where we could all go play.” And I agree with him. I remember when I lived in Brooklyn me and my friends would play from 8pm Friday night until 4am Saturday and it would be at least 10 of us in my friends apartment. We’d play Sega Dreamcast until we all passed out.
So after two years of intensive research, hard work, and sacrifice, Shawn, with the help of his sister, officially opened VS Harlem on March 1, 2006. And the place has been packed ever since. VS Harlem has quickly become the hot place to spot local area celebs. Artist such as Carl Thomas, Jae Mills, Max B, the Dipset, Americas Next Top Model hottie Bre, and a who’s who list of NBA stars such as Stephan Marbury and Pro-Gamers from MLG have all stepped foot into the posh lounge to get their game on.
Shawn hopes to make VS Harlem a home away from home for gamers. When I was there you felt like you where at home. I didn’t feel like a rat was going to run across my foot like at GameTime Nation. VS Harlem is the type of place that I would come to again and again. It’s comfortable, it’s relaxing, and the music is slammin’ to.
Shawn is looking to take gaming to a new level with his lounge. He’s even put his money where his mouth is and sponsors Team VS for MLG. Members of the team include the Halo wonder “Lil’ Poison,” who is only 8 years old, his Uncle “Poison”, “Boo”, Super Smash Bros. Melee champ “Killa OR” and two-time Madden Challenge Champion “Young Gunz.”
There is no doubt in my mind that VS Harlem will be very successful. The place is always busy and if you want something to do on a Friday night then you need to check out their “Lock Ins.” Basically, you pay once and you stay in and play. If you leave the store then you can’t come back in. “Our Lock In nights are always packed and we are usually here until 1 or 2 in the morning playing,” stated Shawn.
Visit VSHarlem.com and sign up for the $1,000 NBA Live 2006 Tournament coming June 11th. Resident Gamer will be in the house doing some taping so check us out and lets us know that YOU’VE GOT GAME.
PHOTO GALLERY: Get an inside peep at VS Harlem with our exclusive photo gallery. Check out pictures of Carl Thomas, Killer OR, Lil’ Poison, and more.
posted by Mike Street
