5 reasons to visit Vacs n' Videos in Huber Heights
Vivienne Machi, Staff Writer
At first glance, vacuums and video games might only have one thing in common: their first letter. But a Huber Heights business brings them together in a most beautiful way for video game mavens, unique furniture collectors and people who haven’t bought a new vacuum cleaner in over 40 years.
When Vacs n’ Videos first opened over 15 years ago, it sold “almost everything that held value,” from Coach purses to antique furniture to signed baseballs, said manager Joseph Thomas. In the past year, they’ve pared down the offerings to what the customers wanted and what they had the most expertise in, and now, the store at 6185 Brandt Pike in Huber Heights supplies specifically what their customers ask for.
Adding to that, they’ve opened a new arcade with over 40 old school games, a concession stand, and event room, so you can play Cruis’n and Double Dragon every weekend now.
Want to go?
WHAT: Vacs n’ Videos
WHERE: 6185 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights
STORE HOURS: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
ARCADE HOURS: 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday except for private parties. Patrons must be 16 or older to enter the arcade unsupervised, but children can enter with an adult. Party packages are available.
INFO: (937) 424-0088
Here are the reasons Vacs n’ Videos is about to become our new favorite haunt:
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1. You might just find that Atari game you loved when you were a kid (or your parents loved when they were kids)
Photo by: Vivienne MachiVacs n’ Videos specializes in hard-to-find or rare video games, from Atari to Nintendo to Sega. Are you dying to play Mario Party 3 again? If they don’t have it right now, just ask them; they know how to find it. Brushed off your dad’s old Atari 2600 gathering dust in the garage? Now you can surprise him for Father’s Day with Sentinel and challenge him to a game.
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2. They still sell PS2 and Nintendo 64 games
Photo by: Vivienne MachiIt was a sad day when you walked to GameStop, ready to stock up on Nintendo 64 cartridges, and realized that they had been cleared away to make room for shiny lime-green-lined Xbox 360 boxes and now only found sporadically in the previously owned shelves.
Luckily, at Vacs n’ Videos, there’s a giant bin full of N64 cartridges. And a whole wall of PS2 games. So now you can stop playing BattleTanx over and over, OK? And if you’ve decided to go way down the nostalgia road and actually buy an Atari 2600 console or a Sega Dreamcast, you can do that too.
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3. Looking for a 1950s-era record player and radio? If they don’t have it already, they can find it for you.
Photo by: Vivienne MachiWhile the size and scope of their offered products has reduced over the years, Vacs N’ Vids will still assist you in finding whatever it is you’re looking for, whether that’s an antique fainting couch or a child’s crib. They also sell used electronics, including speakers, television sets, musical instruments, along with used DVDs and Blu-Rays, and even have a stand dedicated to old Disney VCR tapes.
“We listen to our customers and what they’re looking for. Without them, we would be nothing,” Thomas said. That mentality is palpable throughout the entire store and staff.
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4. Though vacuums are their specialty, you can get various small engines fixed here.
Photo by: Vivienne MachiThe staff estimates that the oldest vacuum they have in the warehouse is from the 1960s, and that KIRBY model (pictured here) is the one they choose to vacuum their floors out of the many at their disposal. The staff is trained in repairing many brands of vacuum from Dyson to Hoover, and also sells any replacement parts or bags you might need to keep your floors mess-free. They will also give you priceless advice about why vacuum bags are a necessity.
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5. Welcome to the Retro-Mania Arcade, your new favorite place for nostalgia trips.
Photo and video by: Vivienne MachiFor the past six months, Vacs N’ Videos has been converting their warehouse space into the arcade of your childhood. Over 40 games, an old-school concession stand, an event room, a bounce house, claw machines and more: there’s fun for the whole family to enjoy, and prizes to win!
The arcade has been open to the public since March.