Is it just me, or is there something extra nostalgic about summer? Maybe it’s the longer days… or maybe it’s just the heat doing something to my brain. Whatever it is, it’s certainly fitting that the newly opened Tribute Store at Universal Studios Florida is a major throwback to the 1980s. This year’s store should feel familiar to anyone who spent their childhood summers running amok at the mall, stacking quarters on a pinball machine, or counting down the days until the latest blockbuster was released on home video.
If this is your first rodeo, Universal Tribute Stores are highly themed shopping experiences that change with the seasons. This summer’s store takes the form of Tribute Store Plaza, a classic strip mall with three shops to explore: Mega Video Rental, Mega Castle Arcade and the Tribute Theater. *cue synth beats*
“The idea was to transport everyone back in time to when small-town strip malls were at their peak,” says Brendan McWilliams, project supervisor for this year’s store.
“It’s a love letter to Universal and our legacy,” adds Sara Hollars, a project manager with the visual merchandise department. “It invokes the nostalgia of the 80s and allows for the sharing of memories.”
Mega Video Rental
Upon entering Tribute Store Plaza, guests will rewind to the plywood-paneled 80s vibes of Mega Video Rental. Mr. Tape — a new character sure to be a hit with fans — watches over the store with friendly reminders to “rewind, or be fined.” You’ll find lots of retro gadgets on display, walls lined with classic Universal Pictures movie posters, and shelves stocked with video tapes (for display only — but don’t worry. There’s plenty of merchandise to peruse!) If your timing is right, you may even run into the overworked owner of Mega Video Rental himself.
“This was a great opportunity for us to relieve our childhoods and put those little 80s touches into the décor,” says Brendan. “The yellow phone, vintage computers and plywood paneling of the video store are specific touches from my own childhood.”
Between Mr. Tape, the movie posters and the character standups throughout the shop, Mega Video Rental has no shortage of photo opportunities. But if you’d really like to hit the rewind button, you can pony up the cash and pose for your own VHS cover photo — and you may even find your tape featured in the store!
Mega Castle Arcade
Once you’ve picked out your share of sci-fi, horror and action tapes to rent, step into the confetti-carpeted Mega Castle Arcade, where you’ll find prop arcade games, themed treats and a bopping synth soundtrack. Easter eggs abound in Tribute Store Plaza, but you’ll want to keep an especially keen eye out as you peruse the merch in this room.
“The team is really good at keeping [Easter eggs] close to the vest, and even a secret from us,” says Sara. “It’s part of the fun in every Tribute Store to go and find them. I will tell you, this one is packed with them, so enjoy finding them all!”
Like any 80s arcade worth its salt, Mega Castle Arcade is packed with kitschy, charming decor. Sure, the games are out of order, but you can still admire the original titles that the visual merchandise team came up with: Tribute Brawler IV, Scoopin’ Sam and — my personal favorite — Gerg’s Alien Adventure. And even though you can’t redeem tokens for prizes, you can still turn your cash into collectible medallions featuring “Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial,” “Ghostbusters” and “Back to the Future.”
PRO TIP: Eagle eyed (or extra nostalgic) guests will find a nod to a beloved attraction from days of Universal Islands of Adventure past in this shop!
Mega Castle Arcade is also where you’ll find a variety of snacks and treats available for purchase, including:
- Shrek’s Onion Cheesecake
- Jaws Cake Roll
- Themed Cake Pops
- Outatime Chocolate Brownie
- Summer Fireworks Fudge
Tribute Theater
On your way out of Mega Castle Arcade and into the Tribute Theater, be sure to grab a ticket for the latest Universal Pictures blockbuster! This cinema is currently showing four major motion pictures, and they’re practically jumping out of the screen.
Actually, they’re literally jumping out of the screen. Look around as you shop and you’ll see iconic scenes from these classic hits lining the walls above the merch. To your left is the electrified clock tower from the finale of “Back to the Future”; to your right, the Ghostbusters face down the Terror Dogs; in front of you, the Orca splashes out from the seas of “Jaws”; and right above you, E.T. and Elliott soar past the moon.
Brendan shares that one of his favorite parts of this year’s creative process was finding what excites the design team and letting them run with it. “It was a fun surprise to explore all the creative partnerships Universal has made over the years to get these films made,” he says.
PRO TIP: As you weave through the red velvet ropes on your way to the checkout counter, don’t miss the Tribute Theater’s nod to Hollywood’s most beloved squirrel!
Although each shop in Tribute Store Plaza has its own uniquely immersive theme, two elements unite the whole strip mall. The first? A true passion for the significance behind these movies and places that we find so nostalgic.
“We went through Universal’s archives of the 70s, 80s and 90s, and found a ton of forgotten gems,” shares Brendan. “I love watching guests when they stumble across a childhood favorite and feel like we’ve reached out to them personally with this store.”
The second, as you might have guessed, is the awesome selection of merchandise in each and every room. Commemorate “Jaws” with your very own “Amity Island Welcomes You” hanging sign, show off your love for all things “E.T.” with a cute new purse, rep Mr. Stay-Puft with a slick “Ghostbusters” T-shirt. Whatever your favorite classic blockbuster may be, you can find a way to flaunt it in Tribute Store Plaza — open all summer long!
Have you had a chance to visit Tribute Store Plaza yet? What was your favorite part? Leave a comment and let us know!
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