Former Lotus Lounge to Become New Arcade Bar 'Boxcar'

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A new developer wants to bring a new bar, a new design, and a new image to an old place surrounded by controversy.

Starting next week, the bar formerly known as Lotus Lounge in Downtown Greensboro will be transformed in to an arcade bar!

The Lotus Lounge was the site of a deadly shooting last year, when a 19-year-old was killed in the parking lot.

The bar closed shortly after.

Now the bar has a new owner named Andy Zimmerman who already owns several properties in the surrounding area, including other bars.

On Thursday, Zimmerman gave us a tour around the building and told us about his plans to open an arcade bar called "Boxcar."

Zimmerman says he got the idea from a bar in Raleigh under the same name and he's even bringing in their management team as well.

Zimmerman says this new bar will erase the so called negative stigma that was once attached to this location.

"Greensboro downtown is a safe community. It wasn't safe at 3:00 in the morning when most of us are all in bed. But now, at 3:00 in the morning, it is safe because that club has been long gone," said Zimmerman. "We have a lot of positive things going on down here."

New owner Andy Zimmerman showed me around the building where Boxcar Arcade Bar will be in August. @WFMY pic.twitter.com/wxwkgImqxm

— Ben Powell (@benpowelltv) May 26, 2016

Zimmerman also says this bar is going to be something completely unique and different than anything that exists in Greensboro right now.

"We are going to have an event space down here, birthday parties, business parties, it really is going to bring another level of energy to downtown and I'm extremely excited about it," said Zimmerman.

New owner Andy Zimmerman says the new Boxcar arcade bar will erase the so called stigma left by Lotus Lounge. @WFMY pic.twitter.com/NyIVXWGpEq

— Ben Powell (@benpowelltv) May 26, 2016

Zimmerman says the construction will start on the new arcade bar next week!

He hopes to have it open by this August.