Vegas Has a New Pop-Up Bar and It is Pure 90s Nostalgia
Remember Friday nights at Blockbuster? The fluorescent lights, the rows of colorful VHS cases, the agony of finding out someone already rented your top pick?
A new pop-up bar in Las Vegas is bottling that feeling — and mixing it with vodka.
“Back 2 The Video Store: A 90s Speakeasy Bar” is a limited-run experience that transforms the beloved video rental store into an immersive night out, complete with movie-themed drinks, nostalgic decor and entertainment straight out of the decade.
The bar had sold-out pop-ups in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Miami and more. It opens in Las Vegas on March 25 and runs through May 17.
The bar is designed to look like an old-school video store, the kind that once anchored strip malls in nearly every American neighborhood.
But instead of picking out a VHS tape to take home, visitors grab a movie case off the shelf and bring it to a bartender, who makes the corresponding cocktail.
Each case on the shelf lists the drink’s ingredients inside, so you know exactly what you’re ordering before you hand it over. It merges the tactile, browsing experience of a video store with craft cocktail culture — and honestly, it sounds like a blast.
The pop-up was created by Bucket Listers, the company behind Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar at Park MGM and the Malibu Barbie Cafe at Area15, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Drinks Are Named After Nostalgic Movies
The cocktail menu reads like a greatest-hits list of 90s cinema, with each drink drawing its name and character from a classic film.
The Mean Girls mixes vodka, lemon juice, watermelon syrup and cotton candy. The Happy Gilmore combines vodka, sweet tea, lemon juice and simple syrup for a refreshing nod to the Adam Sandler comedy. And The Big Lebowski goes rich with vodka, vanilla extract, coffee liqueur and shaved nutmeg — a fitting choice for fans of “The Dude.”
The creative ingredient pairings are designed to capture the spirit of each movie in liquid form. Whether you gravitate toward comedies, cult classics or beloved favorites, there’s likely a cocktail on the shelf that matches your personal movie taste.
Drinks aren’t the only draw. The pop-up offers food options that carry the movie theme to the table, including The Mighty Ducks Quesadilla (made with beef brisket or chicken) and The Mystic Pizza — both named after iconic 90s films.
Throughout the week, the bar hosts trivia nights, bingo nights, karaoke nights and live DJs, giving visitors multiple reasons to come back during the pop-up’s run.
Tickets, Location and Dates
The pop-up is open Wednesdays through Sundays, from March 25 through May 17. It’s located at PKWY Tavern, 4930 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas — three miles off the Strip.
General admission starts at $17.80 per person, which includes 90 minutes of open seating and one cocktail or mocktail.
Additional drinks are available for purchase, so visitors can sample more than one movie-inspired creation during their visit. The mocktail option means non-drinkers can enjoy the full themed experience too.
Reservations and more information are available at bucketlisters.com.