It’s not a time machine, but Bedford’s Retro Plaza offers a step back to yesteryear

When Taylor Watts saw the old medical building dating to the 1960s on Brown Trail, he knew that he found the perfect home for his Retro Plaza concept.

Watts and his business partners have three shops at 1424 Brown Trail devoted to just about anything retro, including vinyl records, vintage clothing, old comic books and an arcade where people can still play video games and pinball for a quarter.

Last summer, the Retro Plaza opened to lots of happy customers.

“This is absolutely in my blood,” Watts said, describing how he grew up in Jefferson, a town devoted to antiques. He studied electrical engineering at Texas A&M University and worked in the field for several years, but realized it wasn’t his passion.

So, he opened Vintage Freak, a treasure trove of vinyl records, old stereo equipment, vintage clothing and furniture along with military memorabilia.

“My back hurts, and the solid wood furniture is heavy, but I can’t wait to find the next find,” he said.

A vast collection of vinyl records appeals to the high school crowd and baby boomers alike as the store boasts 15,000 albums from 1970s classic rock to classical.

“You can pick them up, show them to your friends and put them on an old system that sounds great,” he said.

Taylor also leases space in the Vintage Freak to vendors who sell retro clothing and old military equipment.

Kristin Fraley, who sells vintage clothing, said she learned about the older fashions from her grandmother.

Fraley, 27, specializes in clothes from the 1950s to the 1980s. People buy them for weddings, parties and school events.

“People bring their kids and talk to them about different time periods. I want people to feel happy when they come in,” she said.

Eric Dallof also wants to keep history alive. He leases space at the Vintage Freak to sell the military equipment, medical equipment, religious artifacts and other unusual pieces.

“I’m always out there bringing items back for sale,” Dallof said.

A stuffed cobra and an African drum are just some of the items in Dallof’s collection.

Watts found friends who also became business partners. They opened Retro Madness, a store devoted to video games that can be played on old consuls, toys and comic books.

Some of the most popular toys are Star Wars characters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Craig Roberts, who started the Retro Madness in Hurst before moving to Bedford, said parents and their children can come in and find just about anything.

“Our customers are super supportive. I never would have thought we would find a place with other businesses like ours in one place,” Roberts said.

At the Quarter Lounge Arcade, Roy Turner is surrounded by video games from the 1980s like “Pac-Man,” “Donkey Kong” and “Joust.” He remembered walking half a mile to a laundromat so that he could play one game.

Now, when he comes to work, Turner can play any of the video games or pinball.

Children often come with their parents, and Turner said it is “cool” to see a child playing a game on an old console TV.

“This is our love letter to what we love so much. There is a great retro movement,” Turner said.

This story was originally published June 4, 2017 at 9:12 PM with the headline "It’s not a time machine, but Bedford’s Retro Plaza offers a step back to yesteryear."