Omnivore - Chef Mark Nanna joins Joystick crew
Gamebar crew takes shape
- J Cassoni
- Joystick Gamebar owners Brandon Ley and Johnny Martinez prepare to get in the game
Owners of the forthcoming Joystick Gamebar have announced that chef Mark Nanna will be in charge of developing Joystick’s menu. Most recently, Nanna held the position of executive chef at the original FLiP Burger Boutique, but he’s also spent time at Pura Vida and Element. In addition to serving as Joystick’s consulting chef, he will also helm the kitchen at Bone Garden Cantina.
“I love the old school games that babysat me and the others in the ‘Latchkey Kid Click.’When Joystick asked me to develop their menu I saw it as the perfect opportunity to tap into childhood nostalgia and merge it with modern bar snacks,” Nanna said in a press release. “So, expect new takes on familiar classics, along with some unexpected twists and really great cocktails.”
The concept for Joystick is a fresh take on the classic arcade with craft cocktails, bar bites, and several vintagey coin-operated video games. Actually, owners Johnny Martinez and Brandon Ley have found a clever, creative way to unveil their arcade line-up. Every other day on Joystick’s Facebook page, a photo of Martinez and Ley, decked out like the game’s characters is posted. So far we’ve seen Ms. Pacman, Mortal Kombat, Rampage, Bad Dudes vs DragonNinja, and X-Men.
Joystick Gamebar will be located at 427 Edgewood Ave. in the space that formerly housed Dynamic Dish.