“If you want to return to your childhood, look no further,” said Danny Bishop, of West Babylon.
A murderer’s row of bar tapes featuring a Classic Nickelodeon “Orange” VHS tape, The Simpsons’-certified “Duff Beer,” and “Michael’s Secret Stuff” from “Space Jam” is quite the scintillating scene-setter when you first arrive.
You know off the Mickey Kaline-signed bat Nostalgia is populated by the all-grown kids of a few certain generations with shared pop-cultural crossover.
You also recognize no one would ever double-dare “Irish exit” out its doors, lest they want to miss out on a trip down memory lane lined with oversized “Ed, Edd ‘n Eddy” jawbreakers and arena-jailbroken Beyblades.
In one particular moment, consecutive TVs play an old Tweety Bird commercial for “Orange Crush” soda, the “Rocket Power” Christmas special, and music videos for NSYNC and Green Day while “Taste of Ink” by The Used annihilates on the mostly partial to pop punk in-house “aux.”
Uncoincidentally, nostalgia tastes great in an aptly-named place such as this that flaunts a “Good Burger” on its menu, because of course they would.
From the Rocko, Heffer and Powerpuff Girl-guarded chalk mural; to the signed photos from “Full House” and “Boy Meets World” castmates; the fully in-operation “Mortal Kombat” game back by the bathrooms—themselves lined with old DC and Marvel comic strips; and the large Gameboy cutouts on the backdoor patio, everywhere you step foot, a great wave of memory unlock awaits.
“It’s that feeling you get when you were a kid and a commercial was all in your face and eclectic—and you get to experience that again,” said David Cunha, of Hicksville, who has worked at Nostalgia since its first day of operation in September 2022.
Social butterflies and those afraid of the intermittent dark will all find something to get gassed up about. Much to the chagrin of Tony Soprano, another ‘90s icon experiencing renewed popularity these days, God bless the Quailman-esquely heroic “algo,” “Remember When…” has, by design, become the most preferred form of conversation within Nostalgia’s walls.
When The South Shore Press inadvertently crashed their staff’s Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 10th, Shawn O’Connor, 47, and business partner Pete Dragone, 40, were kind enough to explain it all.
Having conceived the idea with another partner when they were working at Revolution Bar and Music Hall a few years back, Shawn O’Connor always knew he wanted to open a ‘90s-themed bar. Once a '90s kid, always a '90s kid.
Dragone ran One-Eyed Jacks in the same 380 North Wantagh Avenue location for 10 years before falling in love with O'Connor's pitch. He and fellow members of their current ownership brain trust - Thomas Angenbroich and Costas Themistocleous - subsequently teamed up for the nostalgic takeover.
Noteworthy guests they have hosted since predominantly building their bar's innards with relics pulled direct from their youth include: Danny Tamberelli (“All That," "Adventures of Pete and Pete") Thomas Ian Nichols (“American Pie,” “The Rookie of the Year”), Danny Cooksey, “Salute Your Shorts,” "Stoop Kid” in “Hey Arnold,”) Fred Mascherino of the band Taking Back Sunday, and animator Jeff Brennan (“Courage the Cowardly Dog, "Dragon Tales") who will return to Nostalgia on Jan. 25th to teach a 1 p.m. art class.
Making essential connections through friends of friends and by attending '90s conventions in Connecticut, O’Connor and company are beyond proud of the rolodex of niche, yet supremely appreciated contacts they have amassed.
A photographic reminder of Steve Urkel here, “The Nutty Professor” soundtrack on vinyl there, while cute in isolation, are artifacts that take on a deeper meaning when considered with the sum of the parts making up a vast hodgepodge of additional “blast from the past” wall fodder.
Their end goal: to open more "Nostalgia's" down South. The biggest challenge for the first Nostalgia thus far? Cultivating a steady following on-site, and not just online (@nostalgiabarli on Instagram).
Nostalgia charges a cover at the door for premium shows to compensate bands, and may introduce creative membership packages in the future.
Until then, regulars and prospective newcomers can visit nostalgiali.com to reserve a guaranteed seat for exciting events.
Next up: a first day of Chanukah-set, Dec. 26th trivia night exclusively devoted to “Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights.”
I know I will be there with my entourage in tow.