A new retro and vintage store has opened in the heart of Geelong’s CBD, displaying the rarest in collectables, retro and vintage pieces.
All thrifters know the thrill of the find – the adrenaline that comes from coat-hanger swiping, crate digging and shelf searching when you eye the perfect item.
Sometimes it takes seconds, other times hours. Mostly that spike in endorphins is lost entirely as the pursuit grows tiresome. The hands ache from rummaging, the hope is all but lost. Throw into the works the sheer volume of items that are crowded into the warehouse-packed vintage markets and the number of stalls regurgitating the same 6 vinyls. The thrill is gone.
Almost. Enter Retro Archeology.
Retro Archeology
- Where: 90 Ryrie Street, Geelong
- When: Thursday from 2pm – 5pm, Friday from 2pm – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 5pm, and Sunday 11am – 4pm
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Geelong’s newest vintage, retro and collectable shop, Retro Archeology has opened its doors on Ryrie Street offering an alternative to the endless picking cycle.
Having started in a shared stall space at the Federal Mills 123 Retro and moving to The Garage Geelong on Pakington Street, Retro Archeology owners Kelly Clifford and Ed Dolista decided their items needed room to breathe, honouring their collectables and treasures through stunning displays.
“We had a little market stall at the Federal Mills and then in Pako Street, and it was always this little side hustle, but we have now jumped in fully. The stalls were great but we did think that the likes of those spaces can be overwhelming, especially as we are quite eclectic with a wide range of items. The items deserve their place to be seen and displayed properly which is what we have done with the store,” explains Kelly Clifford.
“We have everything from kitchenware to clothing, toys and collectable figurines, books, old school VHS and cassettes, prints as well – it’s kind of overwhelming cramming that into a small stall space and getting lost. We really wanted to bring our own unique style to a store.”
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The life of the Retro Archeology stall started after Dolista’s parents passed away. Having left behind a mass of precious time capsules of the 60’s and 70’s period, Retro Archeology extends from the parents’ household items into comic and pop culture territory thanks to Dolista’s own collection. Inside the store you can unearth a treasure trove of vintage finds, from classic Star Wars toys and memorabilia to groovy 70s fashion and vinyl records. Retro Archeology boasts a curated collection of kitsch items, bronze age comics, vintage video games, and even old-school ghetto blasters!
“My first toy was a GI Joe doll that I loved which I still have and then Star Wars came along in ‘77 and my parents were very kind and got me some Star Wars figures and I’ve been collecting those ever since and focusing on pretty much all those sort of things. Anything from the 1970s – toys, games, and then Atari, and I went into those sorts of things so I’ve been slowly trying to fill some gaps in my collection. The stuff that I don’t love, well not love, because I love it all – the stuff that I stored away in containers, I decided would better belong in someone else’s collection. As hard as it is to part ways with items, you know it’s going to someone who’s going to love it on their shelves.”
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Both teachers, Dolista and Clifford have been loving the customer interaction inside Retro Archeology over their last 7 weeks of trade, having conversations about items and the specific memories they conjure. Like a photo album, the floodgates open when a toy reappears from childhood.
“It’s been great seeing people come into the store and start smiling like they have been transported back in time. People work through their memories in the store and it’s great to hear their own stories of toys or seeing a particular movie for the first time. Someone said recently that we should change our name from Retro Archeology to The Smile store because it’s instant when you walk in that grins appear and people are left saying “wow”,” says Dolista.
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In addition, Retro Archeology, which is current open Thursday through Sunday with varying hours to suit teaching schedules, is also a licensed second hand trader, meaning they can source items for customers who are desperately on the hunt for a piece for their collection or a nostalgic item from their past, and buy items from customers who are looking to part ways with their treasures.
It’s the combined trade of items and trade of memories that marks Retro Archeology from the rest, with their space hoping to cultivate a community of retro enthusiasts and collectors outside of the rogue treasure hunters.
Retro Archeology is open now on Ryrie Street to explore on Thursday from 2pm – 5pm, Friday from 2pm – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 5pm, and Sunday 11am – 4pm.
Find out more about the Geelong step-back-in-time store, Retro Archeology here.
