About

At Press Start Bar, we plan on giving Houston gamers a place to come together and celebrate our love for nerd and gamer culture in all its forms. Our vision is to create an environment where you can become immersed in gamer culture in the company of like-minded folks. We want Press Start Bar to be a sanctuary where you and your friends can get together, grab some Metal Gear Sours, and play your favorite video games in a comfortable, inviting space that will set you instantly at ease. From laid back gaming and gamer trivia nights to intense gaming league nights, we feel that all types of gamers will find what they’re looking for at Press Start Bar.

Initial Goal 50K:



We will use these funds to lock down our location and begin applications for our liquor license and building permits with the city. Because these processes are so time-consuming, it is crucial that we get them started as soon as possible.

$18,100: First and last month's rent plus security deposit

$15,000: Hiring Hudson's License Service to start on liquor licensing

$10,000: Hiring architect to draw up plans and get building permits

$3,500: Hiring an attorney and paperwork fees

$3,400: Producing and distributing rewards

Stretch Goal #1 100K-150K:

At this tier, we could immediately begin remodeling and outfitting the bar with more gaming options, including gamer booths for small groups to rent out. We would also purchase larger beer coolers to provide our customers with more craft beers on draft.

$1,500: Expanding gaming options

$3,500: Purchasing more draft beer coolers

$10,000-95,000: Building 3 to 6 gaming booths for small groups to rent out and a main screen for head to head gaming.

Booths would be great for date night!

Stretch Goal #2 200K-250K:

Additional funds would allow us to scope out a larger space that could incorporate dedicated private rooms for large parties and events. This would also allow us to remodel the space with even more awesome gaming themed walls, lights and rooms.

$50,000: Designing and purchasing gaming themed lights, booths, rooms

$50,000: Expanding and building a private room for parties and events

We'd love to have this kind of atmosphere!

Private rooms so the whole gang can have a good time!

About the Owners

Hannah, Ryan, Cindy. Bartenders, Gamers, Nerds

Ryan Thauburn-Owner/Manager/Bartender

A lifelong Texas gamer and drink-slinger, Ryan has been dedicated to his passions for as long as he can remember. During his 19 years in the service industry, 9 of which were bartending, he has worked in almost every position. From busser to manager, Ryan’s responsibilities have ranged from washing dishes, inventory and stocking to hiring and firing. In his many years of gaming (and working), he has held every position from plumber to God of War.

Aside from his service industry and gaming background, Ryan has been a working comedian for the past decade and has shared the stage with comics such as Jamie Kennedy, Craig Robinson and Ralphie May. His experience in dealing with difficult customer interactions and challenging situations has been honed to an art form, giving him a +40 in customer relations. His time as a comic has also given him valuable experience points in promotions as well as a number of connections in different forms of media, such as The Houston Press, The Chronicle and The Cougar. His connections with the members of the Outlaw Dave Show, Nerd Fu, and the Whiskey Brothers Podcast will all be useful in promotions for the bar in its various stages.

In the small business and operations side of things, Ryan spent his youth assisting his father in the day to day activities of their family’s business ventures. He spent many days learning the ins and outs of running a small business and eventually became responsible for most of the bookkeeping and employee management.

Cynthia Thauburn-Owner/Social Media Manager

She might look like a normal Houstonian woman but she is, in fact, a level 90 Human Priest in World of Warcraft. She is a well-rounded gamer, with nerd culture that exceeds most mortals. Don’t even get her started on Dr. Who… please.

When gaming she is a tenacious, detail oriented perfectionist. Everything must be accounted for and everyone is expected to give 110%, lest they be terminated with extreme prejudice. She brings the same resolve to the workplace. Those she has managed have been held to the highest standards and her workspace is immaculate. Under Cindy’s watchful eye Press Start Bar will operate like a well-oiled machine.

Hannah Weir-General Manager/Head Mixologist

The classic gamer of the group, Hannah Weir has intimate knowledge of all the games we grew up with. When it comes to retro gaming she knows it all, from little known trivia to cheat codes and shortcuts. Hannah has been employed in the hospitality and food service industry for ten years, and has held different management positions with both local and regional establishments. Her positions have included bartender, head server, and regional trainer in a well-known restaurant chain. Hannah’s experiences in recruiting, training and managing staff are keys to a successful business venture.

Hannah grew up in a family who ran their own business and dove into a number of entrepreneurial endeavors in the entertainment and restaurant industry. With that comes a lifetime of mentoring from experienced professionals within the bar and restaurant industry as well as an intimate knowledge of entertainment and promotions that will be invaluable to making sure Press Start Bar is a success.

The Menu

Here in East Downtown Houston there is an overabundance of places to go and grab a cheap beer or whiskey and coke. At Press Start Bar, we want to bring the entire bar experience to a new level unlike any you’ve seen before.

We believe in supporting local enterprises, and to that end we plan on stocking a large selection of local and Texas beers in bottles and on draft. In that same vein we also plan on stocking our liquor selection with a full assortment of Texas liquors and high-end whiskeys.

We know that defining a drink menu isn't based simply on what liquors you carry – it’s what you do with those liquors that matters. To that end we are going to have a rotating seasonal drink menu featuring fantastic gamer themed craft cocktails made with only the freshest ingredients. These will include drinks like the Gin and Sonic, Blanka Bombs and Princess Peach Mimosa's. When the season changes and brings us a different variety of fresh fruits and juices we will evolve our drink menu with it. We want to make sure that we provide the best in seasonal drinks as well as affordable and delicious classics.

Portal Shots at Press Start Bar

The Rewards

It is extremely important to us that our benefactors feel appreciated, and we want to provide the most enticing gifts we can to our backers. That includes nerd gear for those who want to sport some cool threads as well as great in-house bonuses. If our fund raising is successful we would love to upgrade some of our reward packages with even better stuff! So check out the rewards and Press Start now!

Press Start Gear