A record shop and a Blockbuster store walk into a bar. That’s not the setup to what sounded like a promising joke from 1992. It’s an actual place in Pinellas Park.
Beerbusters Movie Bar opened back in 2022, bringing with it a wave of nostalgia as a Blockbuster-inspired beer bar and movie lounge. Now, the retro theme is rolling even stronger, as local pop-up record store favorite Elsewhere Records is setting up a permanent shop inside Beerbusters, located at 6836 Park Blvd.
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The grand opening for the fully non-digital collaboration is on Friday, July 10, from 7 pm to midnight, and it’s looking like a can’t-miss for record collectors, cinephiles, and music lovers alike. Elsewhere Records promises an “insane” drop of records to celebrate the occasion. “I’m talking some crazy stuff deep from the collection y’all,” they said on Instagram.
As part of the fun, there will be food from the Japanese-inspired yakitori pop-up Midnight Yakitori, which specializes in charcoal-grilled skewers of meat and veggies. There will also be all-vinyl DJ sets by G. Perez, as well as the outstanding collection of draft and can beers from Beerbusters, as well as other non-beer offerings.
The record shop side of the store will be open six days a week, and already some of the selections have been added to the shelves, sitting underneath a perfectly-90s DVD collection. It’s the kind of story we love seeing, with a fun pop-up growing, local businesses collaborating, and good food, drink and music for all. That’s a win for everybody.
Also, if you haven’t been to Beerbusters, consider this your sign. It’s become a cult favorite and is a truly wonderful idea. It was the dream of owner Billy Dieli, a man who loves movies and loves beer and decided they should be brought together in the adult version of a sleepover. He’s always showing movies, typically classics and older cult favorites. You can even rent DVDs. And then he has an impressive rotating collection of craft beers, as well as plenty of snacks. Instead of bedtime, it’s a sleepover with a last call. Plus trivia nights.
Follow Beerbusters here, and keep up with Elsewhere Records here. In a time where we all need an escape, these two are more than doing their part to provide it.
