Tourism Tuesday: Back to the Media

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday with Justin Kerns from Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau features Mark & Dani Canoles. They are the owners of Back to the Media, a video game/vinyl record store located on the Old Town Walking Mall in Downtown Winchester. Mark & Dani explain the store's 10-year history including the move to Old Town. They highlight Back to the Media's diverse inventory, including retro video games, vinyl records, comic books, and more. We discuss the resurgence of physical media and the value of nostalgia at any age. We learn details about their newly planned retro arcade space, expected to open in late April/early May, aimed at creating that nostalgic experience for visitors. Mark & Dani talk about how they adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic through initiatives like live-record auctions on Facebook (Saturdays at 7:30pm.) They share stories about how they obtain much of their inventory (buy, sell, and trade) and talk about their camaraderie with customers. Back to the Media is located at 48 S. Loudoun Street on the Old Town Walking Mall in Downtown Winchester. They are open Monday - Saturday from 11am - 7pm and Sunday 12pm - 6pm. Learn more on their website: https://www.backtothemedia.com and/or follow them on Facebook and YouTube. They have also created a separate Facebook page for the arcade addition.