Located at: 2415 Blanding Blvd STE 7, Jacksonville, FL 32210
There’s a couple of game stores around Jacksonville that sell retro games, there are many arcades in Jacksonville, there is only one store that has both!
Originally starting as merely a flea market, Video Game Rescue in Jacksonville, Florida goes above and beyond by creating an exciting atmosphere for anyone who’s into old school gaming. Whether you’re into the classics like PS1, PS2, Nintendo 64, or if you like something a little newer like PS4 or PS5, Video Game Rescue has it all.
Dustin Gartenbush, the founder of Video Game Rescue, opened this venue with a vision – vision that included a hub for all lovers of old school gaming.
Upon entering, you can already tell all the love that was put into VGR. The remarkable paintings of famous video game characters on the exterior windows.
Close your eyes, picture yourself back in 2003. You walk into GameStop and you’re shopping for Jak II, excited to run on home and pop that bad boy into you’re Playstation 2.
Video Game Rescue doesn’t just rescue video games – no. They rescue and give us a helping hand in connecting with our childhood; and while we’re at it, showing the newer generation what we’re all about.
Games and consoles available but are not limited to:
- Atari
- Super NES
- Nintendo 64
- Nintendo Wii
- Nintendo Wii U
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo DS
- GameCube
- Gameboy
- Gameboy Color
- PS1
- PS2
- PS3
- PS4
- PS5
- PSP
- XBox
- Xbox 360
If you’re looking for a particular game or console – feel free to contact the store. If they don’t have your game or console of choice, you can request to be placed on their Wishlist – they will contact you if they receive a trade-in for whatever you’re looking for.
Within the store section, aside from shopping for games and consoles, you can also bring in your own console to have it diagnosed for any repairs it might need. The diagnostic and troubleshooting are free, and they will refer you to a local repair business for your game console.
If you’ve retired from old school gaming and would like to pass your console on to someone else, then you’re more than welcome to trade any games or consoles in return for in-store credits or cash.
It’s important to note that they will not purchase broken games. Consoles and controllers are operationally tested before trade-ins.
Within the store, they also sell cool toys, gaming paraphernalia, old DVD movies, and even retro gaming magazines.
When it comes to the old toys and magazines sold here, it’s not strictly games but also comic book character paraphernalia and wrestling paraphernalia. This shows that Video Game Rescue is not just about the video games – it’s about the memorabilia; reconnecting you to your 9 year old self.
These are awesome to purchase and set up nicely in the man cave. Show off to your friends who the retro king is!
From pinball machines to arcade machines, VGR has an old school arcade located right in their store. Here, you can make a reservation and host private events or birthday parties at an hourly rate; which includes tables, chairs, permission to bring outside food/beverages, and restriction to public access of the arcade to ensure the event stays private.
As far as the pinball machines go, there are several different themed machines; this way, you can feel out each exciting theme making every machine a unique experience for you.
Judge Dredd, Ninja Turtles, Deadpool, Austin Powers, and other more fun themed pinball machines to heighten your arcade experience.
At Video Game Rescue, their machines are old school – meaning that the machines operate on quarters and dollar bills. There is both an ATM and change machine to use located in the store.
Note that some machines are up to 50 years old, so it’s important to take good care of the machines as you use them.
There are many event venues in Jacksonville that the community deserves to know about, and Video Game Rescue is one of them.
VGR hosts weekly events like Super Smash Bros. Tournaments and Board Game nights. If you think you’ve got what it takes, head over to Video Game Rescue and show off your Super Smash Bros. skills.
Jacksonville, Florida has a plethora of weekly live music which is awesome, but if you and some friends are ever looking for a quieter night – then one of VGR’s events is the place to be!
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