13 Boise Spots for VHS, Vinyl, Arcades and Retro Games

To the best of my knowledge, Boise’s last independently owned video rental store on the Boise Bench closed in 2019. Video Memories owner Jerry Anderson told KTVB that streaming had finally caught up with him. It was the sad end of an era.

Seven years later, you can rent a VHS tape in the Treasure Valley again.

Old-school media is making a comeback. Gen Z and Alpha are feeling the physical-media vibe, and Xers and even some Millennials are clinging to the nostalgic feeling of holding onto something tangible. Vinyl is selling, pinball is packing rooms, and people are paying real money for the same Nintendo cartridges we used to blow into.

Here are 13 Boise-area businesses keeping the '80s and '90's alive.

Where to Rent VHS Tapes and DVDs in Boise

1. Rob's Video, Garden City

This is the one that got me thinking about this list. Ian Carpenter opened Rob's Video on Oct. 2 inside Wylie Records, and I wrote about it last week. He's got nearly 1,300 VHS tapes and DVDs. Rentals are $3 for one night or $5 for three, and the free membership comes with a laminated rental card.

"I think of video stores as community experiences," Carpenter told me.

You'll find it at 4586 W. Chinden Blvd. It's open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m.

2. The Flicks, Downtown Boise

Boise's indie movie theater never really stopped being a video store. The Flicks still has a rental section with DVDs and a small selection of VHS tapes. Two-day rentals run $2.79 plus tax, and there's a night drop for returns.

Boise Record Stores Selling Vinyl, Cassettes and More

3. Wylie Records, Garden City

The record shop that houses Rob's Video is a throwback in its own right. Wylie Records buys and sells vinyl, CDs and cassettes, and it's one of the few places around Boise where you can still find LaserDiscs. It also hosts live in-store shows with local bands. Same address as Rob's, 4586 W. Chinden Blvd. Closed Mondays.

4. The Record Exchange, Downtown Boise

Record Exchange is the OG. Founder Michael Bunnell opened The Record Exchange in 1977 using a payout from a logging accident near McCall. Nearly 50 years later, the store at 1105 W. Idaho St. is still stacked with new and used vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. They also have a coffee counter and gift shop.

5. Rollin' Records, West Boise

Rollin' Records spent years as an online-only shop in the Bay Area before opening its first brick-and-mortar store on Fairview Avenue in Boise. It's a good stop for new and used vinyl across just about every genre. Find it at 6803 W. Fairview Ave.

6. Disc-Cover Records, Nampa

Owner Al Babbitt spent time as a radio DJ in Arizona and California before opening Disc-Cover Records in downtown Nampa. (As a radio guy, I respect the career move.) He carries new and used vinyl, CDs, and cassettes at 1224 1st St. S., Suite 202.

Retro Arcades in Boise and Nampa

7. Realms, Boise

Father and son Todd and Tanner Nielsen opened Realms in 2023. It’s become Boise's go-to spot for old-school arcade games. It's for all ages, and a $10 pass gets you free play on every arcade game and pinball machine. There's a stage for concerts and karaoke too. You can find Realms at 109 S. 23rd St., closed Mondays, and anyone under 18 has to be out by 11 p.m.

8. Idaho Pinball Museum, Boise

Correct me if my Boise history is wrong on this one. I believe this started as a few friends' pinball collections in Garden City, back when locals knew it as the Ugly Gold Couch. Now the nonprofit Idaho Pinball Museum has more than 90 playable machines at 1104 N. Cole Road. Admission covers free play. It's only open Thursday and Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

9. Jeremy's Downtown Arcade, Nampa

No bar, no restaurant, just games. Jeremy's Downtown Arcade charges a small cover for unlimited play on dozens of video games and more than a dozen pinball machines, including some rare Japanese imports. It's at 206C 12th Ave. S. in downtown Nampa.

10. Pojo's Family Fun Center, Boise

If you grew up in Boise, you already know. The Wood family opened Pojo's in 1974. According to KTVB. It moved to 7736 W. Fairview Ave. in 1992 and added bumper cars and a carousel along the way.

Retro Video Game Stores in Boise and Nampa

11. VIP GameStore, West Boise

If you're on the lookout for a specific cartridge, start at VIP GameStore. The shelves at 8638 W. Overland Road run deep on NES, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and N64, plus anime DVDs and Blu-rays.

12. Respawn Games, Boise

Respawn Games is a family-owned shop at 4654 S. Cole Road that mixes retro and modern games. It also does trade-ins and console repairs, which is handy if your old system finally gave up. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 to 9 Friday and Saturday, and 11 to 7 Sunday.

13. Retro World, Nampa

This one has Magic Valley roots. Owner Steve Griffin started Retro World in Twin Falls before moving it to downtown Nampa about three and a half years ago. When I talked with him, he said the collectibles boom after COVID convinced him it was time for a bigger market. The shelves lean old school (Atari, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, N64, GameCube), and the shop buys and trades too.

"There's that nostalgic feel when you put a cartridge into an old system and hit the power button," Griffin told me.

You'll find it at 124 14th Ave. S. It's closed Tuesdays.

Got a favorite retro spot I missed? Let me know. I'm always looking for an excuse to go dig through old tapes.