Washington, D.C. is throwing it back to the Blockbuster era this week as Back 2 The Video Store, a 1990s-themed speakeasy, moves into a tucked-away space inside the National Union Building. The pop-up flips the downtown spot into a VHS-style rental shop loaded with lava lamps, pogs and staged movie moments that are ready for photos, and it is open for a limited run into March. Visitors wind through rows of tape cases, trade in a membership-style drink ticket and bring their choice to the bar, where a bartender, billed as a “videotender,” shakes up a movie-inspired cocktail.
Daniel Landau-Smith got an early tour for FOX 5 DC on March 4, walking the set and sampling the drink menu. As reported by FOX 5 DC, the pop-up has landed in the city for a limited stay. The event listing from Bucket Listers names the National Union Building at 918 F St NW as the venue and lays out available time slots along with ticket details.
Inside the mock rental shop
Guests browse shelves of VHS-style cases and pick a tape that doubles as their drink order, then the bartender “checks out” the matching cocktail, a setup reviewers have called delightfully retro. Coverage of earlier runs in other cities has highlighted playful touches like themed garnishes, interactive shots and arcade games that pull double duty as photo ops. As described by Time Out, the concept leans into kitsch and nostalgia while keeping the drinks squarely in the spotlight.
Tickets and logistics
According to Bucket Listers, general admission starts near $19.90 and includes a welcome cocktail plus a 90-minute reservation window. The experience is limited to guests 21 and older, and additional food and drinks are available to purchase on-site. The organizer’s fine print notes that all sales are final and warns that popular weekend slots can sell out quickly.
Why D.C. is getting the trend
Back 2 The Video Store is part of a larger wave of nostalgia-heavy, ticketed pop-ups that have cycled through cities such as New York, Miami and Houston, offering camera-ready nights out without a permanent buildout. Northern Virginia Magazine folded the D.C. edition into a roundup of ’90s-themed happenings and pointed to the National Union Building as the host location. For downtown property managers and promoters, short-run concepts like this are a relatively quick way to boost weekday and early-evening foot traffic while giving the nightlife crowd something fresh to talk about…