I wasn't sure what this was about before I stepped through the door but I sure knew within about ten seconds. Love for Retro is exactly what the name hints at - a tight, neatly organized shrine to video games and old-school media. The focus here is squarely on electronic nostalgia. They buy and sell video games across multiple generations including controllers, cables and all the accessories that you forgot existed until you see them again on a shelf.
They also have carved out a solid section for physical media. VHS tapes, DVDs, LaserDisks that you don't see often unless you're deep into collecting. Everything is arranged cleanly, not the chaos of thrift stores that you sometimes get with retro shops. There are a few toys and collectible bits on the shelves. Otherwise, this is all electronic. I didn't see board games or RPGs here, which is fine.
One of the coolest surprises was the handful of arcade cabinets set up for free play. It adds a fun little pulse to the shop and gives you a reason to linger a bit longer than you planned. It's the sort of shop that definitely triggers memories that I had forgotten about. I used to be pretty good at Galaga back in the day.
[Round number review 600 of 2026 - 4688 in North Carolina - 25781 overall] read more