In about a week, Bowdon teens will have a new place to hang out, according to Erin Scara, co-owner of The Brick Wall, a new arcade in downtown Bowdon.

Scara, who will open The Brick Wall with her brother, said the new arcade will give teens a safe place to meet.

“There needs to be a safe place for kids to play,” Scara said. “Kids love video games and this will be family centered.”

Scara, a resident of Villa Rica, hired Blain Ferguson of Bowdon to manage the arcade.

“This is for all ages, but we are focusing on the high school, middle school crowd,” Ferguson said.

The new game room will have arcade games, ping pong tables, pool tables and a band stand, according to Ferguson.

“We will have all different types of music: bluegrass, rock, Christian,” Ferguson said. “We are also hoping to have a karaoke night.”

At the Bowdon City Council meeting Monday night, council members were in favor of the new business venture, but there were some concerns mentioned.

Included in the discussion was the size of the sign already mounted on The Brick Wall’s exterior.

“The city ordinance states that a sign must be a maximum of 25 square feet, your sign is too big,” City Manager Jimmy Meigs said.

After a brief discussion, the council voted unanimously to grant a temporary sign license until a variance can be passed at the council’s next meeting in January.

Another issue with The Brick Wall’s building was the lack of window space on one wall where the games would be positioned.

According to a Bowdon city ordinance, all games must be visible from the street to assist police on patrol, Police Chief Mark Brock said.

However, Ferguson said there was a quick fix through replacing panels on the two garage doors that make up part of the wall with glass.

“That would be relatively easy to do,” Ferguson said.

With the temporary sign permit and the new windows, Ferguson said The Brick Wall should be able to open within a week or two.

“I think it’s going to be an attractive place of business,” Councilman Ray Garrett said.

Brock said he believes the business will be a positive addition to Bowdon, but he will still patrol the area regularly.

“It depends on how it’s run,” Brock said. “I hope it does a good thing for the community.”

Also at Monday’s meeting:

• The council voted unanimously to renew three beer and wine licenses for Patel Food Mart, Magnificent Group and Bowdon Business. According to Brock, there were no previous incidents at these locations.

• The council voted to renew El Paton’s pouring license.

“That’s a pretty clean institution,” Garrett said.