If you’re looking for real 80s and 90s treasures with a side of nostalgic chaos familiar to that era, Real Retro is the place to go.
Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA
While your run-of-the-mill thrift store can certainly yield some true gems, vintage shopping can feel like wading into deep, murky waters. But nestled in an unsuspectingly large corner of the Eisenhauer Market, Real Retro is using an impressive resource pool to scatter ’80s and ’90s treasures across the largest market vendor in the roughly 100,000-square-foot building.
Real Retro is a site to see. After entering the long-loved market at 3903 Eisenhauer Road, a trip to the far left side yields a maze of vintage clothes, media, trinkets, toys, electronics and more. As very hip mashups of classic ’80s and ’90s songs and soundbites blare through the airwaves, visitors are left with an overwhelming selection of nostalgic goodies.
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It’s a marvelous place not only for Millennials or Gen X shoppers looking for their old faithfuls, but also a jackpot and haven for a cohort of younger generations suddenly taking a huge interest in physical media.
If you’re looking for real 80s and 90s treasures with a side of nostalgic chaos familiar to that era, Real Retro is the place to go.
Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA
“I love it because I have kids that are like 15 or 16 years old, and they’re like, ‘Oh my God. What is that?’ and [the electronics guy] is like, ‘That’s a TV. That’s what we used to watch TV on,” Linda, one half of the husband-wife duo behind Real Retro (which she lovingly calls her husband’s midlife crisis), told MySA. “The stuff that we have in here, the younger people love.”
Reel-to-reel tapes, old Atari gaming consoles, tube televisions, N’Sync dolls (if you know you know), 35-year-old pop culture collectibles and so much more are lurking around every corner. And if you’re looking for vinyl, DVDs, VHS tapes or cassette tapes, this is a must-stop – not only for the wide selection but also for the highly competitive pricing. Anyone can snag a classic piece of entertainment for a few bucks in this place.
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If you’re looking for real 80s and 90s treasures with a side of nostalgic chaos familiar to that era, Real Retro is the place to go.
Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA
But of course, the pair know what they have, scouring the web, eBay, thrift stores, bulk-order sites, and more for their extensive inventory, which could take a day to really dig through. There are valuable pieces in the double or triple digits, but it’s the fun of browsing through this time capsule with a kitsch (and yes, retro) aesthetic that is maybe more than half the fun.
And if you’re purely looking for clothes or accessories, band tees run aplenty. A massive wall with protruding racks displays a shocking array of concert T-shirts, making it a fun place to peruse. From Shania Twain to Dave Matthews Band to Iron Maiden or Kiss, just about anyone can walk away with a score.
If you’re looking for real 80s and 90s treasures with a side of nostalgic chaos familiar to that era, Real Retro is the place to go.
Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA
But you’ll have to do the work to find what you’re looking for, says Linda. She says the merchandise is categorized – like a section for band tees, records, or memorabilia – but it’s not organized alphabetically or by band. It’s partly because this is a small team keeping this behemoth of a stock managed, but it also gets people to explore.
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Ultimately, this is a much-needed escape from the white walls and concrete floors of fast-fashion mall environments, which almost immediately immerses you in a sense of community. Even on a mid-afternoon Friday, folks were mingling and browsing together, sharing memories.
If you’re looking for real 80s and 90s treasures with a side of nostalgic chaos familiar to that era, Real Retro is the place to go.
Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA
Real Retro’s value is clear. In just nine years, the company grew like wildfire, taking over neighboring booths and becoming the largest booth (2,800 square feet) in the massive Eisenhauer Market. They filled all that space.
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“[We have] humble beginnings that started as a two-man team, right? A husband and wife. I was corporate America. She was corporate America. We left all that behind us… and now, this is what we do full-time,” Adrian, the second half of the owner duo, told MySA. “We love it. No more suits and ties. No more nooses. It’s freeing. It’s amazing what a mom-and-pop shop can do for the soul.”