IO Arcade Bar Relief Fund

May 20, 2021 
I/O REOPENS TODAY 4pm-close!

Their NEW HOURS can be found here: https://ioarcade.bar/

GAME ON!!!

There are never enough thanks out there to properly thank all of you for supporting this magical place through this not-so-magical-time ✨

All we can say is JOIN US to see the hard work put in thanks to your generosity

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EDIT/update: Thanks to some valuable feedback, we want to clarify where these funds are going. They are going to I/O Arcade Bar LLC directly to help cover operational costs and inventory to maintain the space until it is safe to reopen. 


Help us push through this tough time together by social distancing, social sharing, and social giving.

I am organizing this emergency campaign to help the numerous staff members we all love, and my dear friend & owner of I/O Arcade Bar, Mitchell Turino, weather this unpredictable public health crisis as best as possible.

Everyone knows rent in Madison is too damn high, and this is no different for businesses. Now, it is time to try to make sure that when the time is right, I/O will be able to open their doors once again.

I/O Arcade Bar is more than just a bar, and it is more than just an arcade. It is a community of people different in so many ways but steadfast in their support and appreciation for each other. The countless memories and echoes of laughter in and outside of I/O's walls make fighting for it that much more worth it.

Since COVID-19 and lock-downs started, I/O Arcade Bar has alternated from being completely closed for 3 months, to a light reopening (with rigid sanitation, rules, and mask-wearing), back to closing as Dane County returned to Phase 1 on July 1st due to COVID-19 case spikes. This phase limits indoor gatherings to 10 people or fewer and closes bars for indoor service entirely. Rent, insurance, taxes, and other bills are all being incurred while no revenue is coming in.

Through all of this Mitchell has worked endlessly to support his staff, even paying their hourly wages while the bar was closed. Despite all the expenses and financial uncertainty, he still joined in the fight for racial justice without hesitation and paired with Madison Pinball to help raise over $4,000 for bail funds and other initiatives.

Service industry folks are caught in an extremely difficult position, either being at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 because of their job, or financial risk without it. Any little bit helps keep employees paid, doors open, and could afford Mitchell (at least a little bit of) breathing room.

I hope we as a community can come together and give back to I/O Arcade Bar who needs our help now to get through this rough patch. With our help and as some time passes, we will be able to once again go back to I/O safely, securely, and happily in order to pick up on the last game we left off.

Thank you for reading! And thank you for your consideration!


-Haley Sinklair

(100% of money raised will go to I/O Arcade Bar)