The GaRAGE Karaoke and arcade coming to Corbin

If you are looking for a family-friendly entertainment option, downtown Corbin will soon have it with The GaRAGE Karaoke and Arcade.

Karaoke venue and arcade The GaRAGE to open in downtown Corbin soon.

Jamie Brown and her boyfriend, Chase Gabbard, are working to renovate the former A-1 Car Care building at the corner of North Main and Gordon Street for their new business.

Brown said she and Gabbard frequently go to karaoke, but there is nowhere downtown that offers it.

“We have the building, so literally one week ago, I said lets open our own,” Brown said. “We started working on it on Thursday.”

While the bays where vehicles were formerly cleaned and serviced, along with a parts room, will be repurposed, Brown said they wanted to maintain the garage vibe of the building as a tribute to her father.

James Alsip ran the business out of the building since the early 1980’s.

“He loved this place,” Brown said of her father adding that she is excited to see it brought back to life.

“My whole life, I was barefoot and filthy at this garage,” she said.

Brown said with the work progressing so quickly, the couple is hoping to open for business by early April.

“We are going to be keeping the garage theme,” Brown said. “We are using a bunch of my dad’s old stuff to incorporate into the theme.”

The GaRAGE will be open Wednesday through Saturday. Hours on Wednesday and Thursday will be 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours will be 5 p.m. until midnight.

“If we have a large crowd, we will keep going until it slows down,” Brown said the weekend hours.

Admission will be $5 for adults, $2.50 for children under 10, while children younger than three will be admitted free.

Veterans will be admitted for $2.50 by showing their veteran card.

Snack foods including popcorn, pretzels and nachos will be served, along with soft drinks and water.

Brown said no alcoholic beverages will be available.

“We want to be very family friendly,” Brown said.

Brown said they have spoken with multiple people in an effort to locate arcade games and pinball machines and will be meeting with additional people on Friday.

Games to be included include Pac Man, Galaga and Dance Dance Revolution.

Customers may purchase an armband that will give them access to the arcade games for unlimited play.

While the karaoke won’t be available on Mondays, Brown said she and the rest of the crew would be searching to entertainment alternatives.

One idea is to host the Monday Night Murder Mystery once a month.

“We are definitely open to ideas to keep people engaged,” Brown said.

More information about The GaRAGE is available on its Facebook Page.

“I’m so excited. I think it is going to be awesome,” Brown said. “It is just good, clean fun.”

Corbin Downtown Director Aaron Sturgill said adding The GaRAGE to downtown is another step in its revitalization.

“Downtown Corbin is growing exponentially. It has become a hub for entrepreneurs and the culinary arts, but something we have been missing is activities for our children and teens,” Sturgill said. I’m thrilled to see a business of this nature come into our community, and I think things like this and the splash pad will help get our younger generations as excited as we are about downtown.”