Remember the days of heading to Blockbuster on a Friday night, wandering the aisles looking for the perfect movie and rushing home to pop it into the VCR?
Well, a new downtown Victoria business is bringing some of that nostalgia back, and it’s already turning heads.
The Nostalgia Nook officially opened its doors inside the Bay Centre on October 1st, offering a unique combination of retro shopping, VHS rentals, vintage video games and a living room straight out of the 1980s and ’90s.
But this isn’t your typical vintage store.
Visitors are encouraged to sit on the couch, pick up a Nintendo controller, explore the displays and simply enjoy a little trip down memory lane.
Best of all, the interactive experiences are completely free!
Behind the concept are husband-and-wife team Shaun and Catharina (Cat) Peterson, who describe themselves as “pop-culture preservationists.”
Shaun has been collecting nostalgic treasures since childhood and previously worked at Blockbuster Video and the University Heights movie theatre. Cat, a full-time registered nurse, handles much of the creative side of the business, including branding, product development and the overall experience.
Shaun’s sister Amanda also helps run the shop, alongside other family members who contribute to its handmade merchandise.
The idea began in the couple’s own home, where years of collecting VHS tapes, vintage electronics, games and childhood memorabilia had created their own little nostalgic retreat.
During a trip to Austria in early 2024, a visit to Salzburg’s Toy Museum helped inspire them to turn their passion into something the community could enjoy.
“We wanted people to do more than look at things behind glass,” the couple told Victoria Buzz.
“We wanted them to sit on the couch, pick up the controller, choose a movie and actually experience those memories again.”
And that’s exactly what they’ve created.
One of the store’s biggest attractions is its retro living room, inspired by the classic comedy Wayne’s World and the mismatched basement hangouts many people remember from growing up.
Complete with wood panelling, old furniture, CRT televisions and vintage gaming consoles, the space is designed to transport visitors back to a time before streaming services and smartphones dominated entertainment.
Beyond the displays, shoppers can browse VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, cassette tapes, vinyl records, board games, vintage toys, electronics and other collectibles from the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s.
And yes, you can actually rent VHS movies again. Membership is completely free, with rentals costing $4.99 for three nights or $6.99 for five nights.
Don’t have a VCR collecting dust somewhere? The store rents those too, offering a VCR and movie package for $29.99 for three nights.
Their motto sums it up perfectly:
“No subscriptions. No algorithms. Just movie night.”
The store also carries handmade products through its HOMEBODY collection, including cozy accessories, crocheted blankets and upcycled creations made from nostalgic items such as VHS cases and POGs.
More than just a store
While the retro merchandise is certainly a draw, the Petersons say their bigger goal is to create a welcoming community space where people can connect without feeling pressured to spend money.
“We’ve also been thinking a lot about how lonely the world can feel, despite being more connected than ever,” they explained.
“We miss when movie night was an event. Going to Blockbuster with friends or family, wandering the aisles, reading the backs of VHS cases, debating which movie to bring home and then actually sitting down to watch it together.”
They hope the Nook can become what is often called a “third space,” somewhere outside of home and work where people can relax, socialize and enjoy themselves.
“You don’t have to buy something to sit on the couch or play video games,” they said.
“We obviously hope people will support the business when they’re able, but we never wanted money to be a barrier to enjoying the space.”
The response since opening has been more than the couple anticipated.
According to Cat, one of their Facebook videos has already reached more than 2.5 million views, while visitors have been sharing emotional reactions to items that remind them of their childhoods.
Some have returned multiple times, bringing friends and family members along to share the experience.
“We’ve had customers walk in and immediately get emotional because something reminds them of their childhood or someone they used to watch movies with,” they shared.
“We’ve watched complete strangers start conversations over a toy or movie, and parents introduce their children to games they played at the same age.”
The couple also hopes their business will encourage more people to visit downtown Victoria and support other local shops and restaurants.
They deliberately chose the Bay Centre after learning about plans to introduce more entertainment and experience-based businesses to the shopping centre.
Looking ahead, they hope to introduce themed events, collaborations with local businesses, rotating displays from collectors and even a nostalgic Christmas wonderland.
For now, they’re enjoying watching people rediscover a little piece of their past.
“We’re not trying to turn back time or convince people that everything was better in the past,” they said.
“We just think there’s something worth preserving about the way we used to connect.”
And if you still have an old VHS collection tucked away in the basement, you might just have a reason to dust it off.
The Nostalgia Nook is located in Unit 120A of the Bay Centre at 1150 Douglas Street.
The shop is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours may change seasonally.
More information is available online at their website.
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