Located inside the sprawling Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach, this Aladdin’s Castle was a favorite for both tourists and locals during the 1980s and 90s. Tucked near the food court, it lured kids with the siren call of synthesized music and flashing cabinet marquees.
It became known for hosting high-score showdowns on titles like Mortal Kombat II and Daytona USA, with locals claiming bragging rights and rivalries forming across school districts. Birthday parties, after-school hangouts, and first dates all unfolded beneath its glowing ceiling tiles.
Closed in the early 2000s as part of Namco’s corporate retrenchment, the space was eventually turned into a retail outlet—but online threads still echo with memories of greasy pizza, joystick blisters, and that very specific carpet pattern.