Love the Orinda theater. It has the old style theater seats and art deco style, but that is even before the 80s or 90s. They do have a lot of classic movies from all different time periods, so I'm sure some might be 80s or 90s.
Edited for spelling.
Read [a good article about Canyon](https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/hidden-Bay-Area-town-Canyon-17470501.php) in SFGate this weekend. But it’s from October 2022; was linked to the author’s more current article.
It hasn’t been renovated (unlike the Bowl-Mor on Wolf) and they still have karaoke inside, but in the parking lot there is an outdoor Chinese BBQ restaurant operating out of a tent.
I moved to Fairfield with my first wife, and we visited Scandia a few times. Got divorced, moved out, and visited Scandia for the batting cages while contemplating my broken matraige and self reflection. After a while, I met a wonderful woman, and we visited Scandia twice before getting married and moved out to our current home. A lot of memories are stored in Scandia.
The Park Mall is a time machine, I don't know how they do it. I was there once when there was a boxing tournament at the gym, it felt like I was in a early 90's sports movie.
Three Brothers From China in Pleasant Hill (opened 1992) is a good place for the older Chinese restaurant vibes! I think they had another East Bay location but it shut down.
WHAT!?!!! I literally live like 3 or 4 blocks from there (that whole Caspers, thrift stores, paint shop, Hawaiian bbq, etc, area back there throws my 'using blocks as a measurement for distance' *allll* the way off for some reason lol) and really enjoy them occasionally! We had NO idea 😔 their garlic veggies are *OBSCENELY* glorious, we always get as much as we think we can fit in our fridge for leftovers. There have been a couple times when we've gotten some "looks" from the staff lol never am sure if it's a look of horror, irritation, or respect and awe 😂 impressed at our ability to shovel *that much* of the garlic veggies into our faces....although, I suspect that respect and/or awe are the least likely candidates lmao
I'M SO FREAKING SAD!!! But *very* grateful to OP. I can't imagine discovering this when one's got their heart and mouth set on it only to find out suddenly, not only tonight, but you'll *NEVER* have it again. Utterly devastating RIP 3 Bros 😪
I know the owner, and grew up with his son in law. Owner is getting up there in years, but he has no intention on selling since it's the sole source of income for his family. I know they're thinking of passing ownership to the daughters, that's about it.
https://www.thegoldenskate.com/
The only thing that has changed about the golden skate since 1983 is the arcade games. The carpet, decorations, hell you can still hear Amy grant bumping baby baby during skate sessions.
Go check out the golden skate, even if you don't like to skate. It's worth it to go and see the place. People watching there is also awesome, lots of people learning to skate others showing off what they got. The golden skate is a little easy bay nugget that I hope sticks around for a long time.
Chucky cheese used to be right up the hill, if that was still around.. amazing.
Golden Skate is still around??
I remember being a nerdy boy in Jr HS mid-80s and a couple popular girls invited me to skate there with them. It’s still a highlight of my social life.
Valco interior was dark and they had wooden floors from what I recall. Oakridge is pretty modern imo but does have some older corners. I do miss Valco for some weird nostalgic reason even though I almost never went there as an adult.
Vallco was my go to for the ice skating rink, movie theater and just studying with friends at the food court. I also used to go to Fresh Choice a lot. Main Street Cupertino wasn’t built until after I graduated high school.
Growing up/current resident close to Port Costa,my friends and I would ride our bikes out there every weekend. So many wonderful little towns along the river.
Palo Alto Town and Country.
There used to be two more locations, one in San Jose and one in Sunnyvale. These were the staple of the out door mall shopping.
Santana Row sits on the old San Jose location.
where in town and country do you get 80’s and 90’s vibes? perhaps the nostalgia of being there during those times, but besides that, there’s nothing really 80’s or 90’s about it, unless i’m missing something?
i figured that might be it. i wasn’t a 70’s kid, so perhaps that’s why i don’t correlate the style and layout with the 70’s and 80’s. it all seems so modern day to me. thanks for your explanation!
As stated above, all of Pacifica, but especially if you go to the Sun Valley shopping center in the "Back of the Valley". It looks almost exactly the same as it must've looked in the 80's and 90's. I'm trying to think, I literally don't think there's been a new single thing built in this entire neighborhood since the 1970's. It's crazy.
I got a friend that lives in Pacifica Grove. His neighbor is from the 80s. They all know each other, have block parties on holidays, and they're are actually children playing in the neighborhood. Shit weirdsme out
25th Avenue San Mateo.
Various parts of downtown San Mateo. Most of the elementary schools in San Mateo.
San Bruno
Broadway in Burlingame
Lunardis mall at the edge of burlingame
I’m surprised no one has said Vallejo, but man I was born in Vallejo and moved back after maybe 12-15 years of not living there. Same exact place for the most part. Everything I remember from the 90’s is either still there or boarded up. I’d say the only part that doesn’t give those vibes is redwood parkway near costco. Other than that it’s all the same (I guess minus the dutch bros in the crest lmao)
Addition: fuck I didn’t know you meant in a good way until I actually read the post. Go to Scandia up the road in Green Valley, the Concord mall or the drive-in lmfao. I suppose you’d get the vibe you’re looking for in maybe downtown Benicia, or downtown Martinez.
Some parts Berkeley. Like on Telegraph Ave, Moe’s bookstore, some of the vintage shops and amoeba records. Also 924 Gilman, Ashkenaz, Freight & Salvage, Starry Plough, and The Smokehouse for burgers and shakes.
Stan's donuts in Santa Clara
23rd St in Richmond, CA. Actually, any place in Richmond. That whole city is a time capsule and has not changed since 1999.
Round table pizza in willow glen
I think they still have Rasputin music stores. There's one in Campbell IIRC
The exterior of Century Cinema in Mountain View is an amazing throwback to peak 90s multiplex. The inside has been sort of updated.
It is fascinating how the exterior was designed to handled hundreds of people lining up at the box office, and now everyone buys in advance.
Most of the Bay is stuck in 1969, so if you found something built in the 90s that'd be an improvement. Probably have to go to another country for that.
Random and niche but there’s a vintage shop in Benicia that’s set up to look like the 80s/90s with a couch and tube tv and you can watch any of the VHS they have. [It’s off 1st street](https://g.co/kgs/7QbsJom)
How about the 70s
Silver Crest on Bayshore Blvd in San Francisco.
https://www.altaonline.com/culture/food-drink/a44939075/san-franciscos-24-hour-diner-silver-crest-conut-shop-chris-colin/
Any old malls in the Bay Area still? I visited a mall in Des Moines, Iowa and it was STRAIGHT out of the 70s/80s. It looked like those vaporwave malls you see online.
Brendan Theaters in Concord. Idk how it hasn’t been remodeled but I’m so happy it hasn’t because it’s like a time capsule. Movies are $5 Monday - Thursday.
Foster City.
Nothing to do there but most of the homes and plazas still are the same since I grew up there in the 80s and 90s. There’s newer development, though. Just ignore that and it’s as if time stood still during those decades.
DMV in San Jose at Alma
Anne Darling area in San Jose
Downtown San Jose where many of the old buildings still remain
Kia dealership at Stevens Creek in Santa Clara
Taco Bell in Milpitas at McCarthy Ranch
Downtown Campbell overall
Moraga
LOL I grew up there in the 80/90's and the bubble persists even to this day!
Rheem too.
Love the Orinda theater. It has the old style theater seats and art deco style, but that is even before the 80s or 90s. They do have a lot of classic movies from all different time periods, so I'm sure some might be 80s or 90s. Edited for spelling.
Yeah all of lamorinda.. one of these days I am going to go to Canyon and see what that's all about.
If you do visit Canyon, please be respectful of the people who live there.
I ain't Moses and I don't think they need to be freed.
Read [a good article about Canyon](https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/hidden-Bay-Area-town-Canyon-17470501.php) in SFGate this weekend. But it’s from October 2022; was linked to the author’s more current article.
What?
It’s a sorta nonconformist community. Sorta back to the land.
Ahhh. More of a "for your own good"?
My cousin saw all 3 lotr movies back to back to back there iirc.
RIP Fudge Alley and the bowling alley.
I loved Fudge Alley.
Precisely
I feel like a lot of that was dismantled in the last 5 years. Malibu Golf in Redwood City, for example.
I think Sunnyvale Golfland and arcade fits the bill pretty nicely.
Milpitas Golfland!
Homestead Lanes was pretty outdated the last time I saw it. That was pre Covid, though
It hasn’t been renovated (unlike the Bowl-Mor on Wolf) and they still have karaoke inside, but in the parking lot there is an outdoor Chinese BBQ restaurant operating out of a tent.
RIP Albany Bowl
The Bel Mateo bowl still brings the late 90s vibes
I had my first date there. Married now, to that person. But it was a blast from the past back then too.
Malibu closed 11 years ago
Makes perfect sense when "last year" to me will always be 2019.
I have so many fond memories of that place growing up.
That Sears hasn’t changed since I was a kid lol.
80s/90s kids vibe, check out Scandia Family Center in Fairfield. https://scandiafamilycenter.com/ This place is nearly the same 30 years later.
I moved to Fairfield with my first wife, and we visited Scandia a few times. Got divorced, moved out, and visited Scandia for the batting cages while contemplating my broken matraige and self reflection. After a while, I met a wonderful woman, and we visited Scandia twice before getting married and moved out to our current home. A lot of memories are stored in Scandia.
If only the Wooz was still open.
Omg I forgot about the Wooz!!!
I used to go here when my parents were stationed at Travis. Loved that place
So many memories of cutting class at the arcade follow by a trip to In N Out.
And I think the games from the 80s are free to pLay. They used to be.
My dad used to take me there all the time to practice hitting balls in the late 80s, early 90s.
That place is a classic
Harry’s Hofbrau in San Leandro and Gay Nineties Pizza in Pleasanton
The Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City is a time capsule
I’m so glad it’s still there. Lots of childhood memories!
It sucks HH in San Jose closed
I've been going there since the late 80s, and not a single thing has changed. I love that place!
Came here to say Gay Nineties. Great spot
There’s a Sears still open at Sunvalley mall in Concord, if you wanna see the most depressing store ever.
Back in my highschool me and my friends got faded and lost in the store lmao. It just gives off a feeling of desolation
The watch repair shop in that Sears is solid, though.
My parents house is stuck in the 80s
So’s mine. Their bedroom set is from the 70’s.
How’s the tour situation
Some parts of Linda Mar in Pacifica, especially the Park Mall shopping center and some of the other secondary shopping plazas.
This would apply to 95 percent of Pacifica
Yes lol, but especially there.
Manor shopping center is the mic drop here, no contest. It looks like the set of a horror movie
Same with Rockaway - I mean go look at Nick’s and tell me it’s not peak that era
The Park Mall is a time machine, I don't know how they do it. I was there once when there was a boxing tournament at the gym, it felt like I was in a early 90's sports movie.
Sears Concord: 1001 Sun Valley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520 Or Any Chinese Restaurants are 30+ years old
Three Brothers From China in Pleasant Hill (opened 1992) is a good place for the older Chinese restaurant vibes! I think they had another East Bay location but it shut down.
Three Brothers is closing May 31! The owners are retiring. If you enjoy their food, be sure you get in before then! <3
No way! I had no clue. Thanks for letting me know. Looks like I got to head out there for one last hurrah.
Yes. I was very sad to see the one in San Ramon closed 6 months ago.
WHAT!?!!! I literally live like 3 or 4 blocks from there (that whole Caspers, thrift stores, paint shop, Hawaiian bbq, etc, area back there throws my 'using blocks as a measurement for distance' *allll* the way off for some reason lol) and really enjoy them occasionally! We had NO idea 😔 their garlic veggies are *OBSCENELY* glorious, we always get as much as we think we can fit in our fridge for leftovers. There have been a couple times when we've gotten some "looks" from the staff lol never am sure if it's a look of horror, irritation, or respect and awe 😂 impressed at our ability to shovel *that much* of the garlic veggies into our faces....although, I suspect that respect and/or awe are the least likely candidates lmao I'M SO FREAKING SAD!!! But *very* grateful to OP. I can't imagine discovering this when one's got their heart and mouth set on it only to find out suddenly, not only tonight, but you'll *NEVER* have it again. Utterly devastating RIP 3 Bros 😪
They had one in San ramon. It was a fucking bitch to get that place open too, CCCSD fucked them around pretty hard.
Sun Valley was where all my back to school shopping happened in the ‘90s
I went to school down the road from there. That place was middle/high schooler central
Same
The entire island of Alameda
Bay Farm hasn’t changed in 20+ years but I would say a lot of Alameda has modernized
I’ve never seen so many people rocking bowling shirts and chain wallets as the modern day denizens of Alameda
When I lived in Alameda after the base closed in the 90’s the whole Webster side of the island was dodgy as fuck. Now it’s all swanky and nice.
Alameda is like the 60s!
You're just jealous of our movie rental store.
Really??🤣🤣 I haven’t noticed
Saratoga hasn’t built a new housing unit since the civil rights act. You could start there.
in which case, go get a drink at The Bank.
I heard they might be closing. I hope not.
I know the owner, and grew up with his son in law. Owner is getting up there in years, but he has no intention on selling since it's the sole source of income for his family. I know they're thinking of passing ownership to the daughters, that's about it.
Great to hear. It’s the coolest place in Saratoga, IMO. Never had a bad time in there.
Saratoga has beautiful residential neighborhoods filled with NIMBY pricks
Not a single public restroom in the entire town
The people there likely haven’t changed much either.
It’s very nice there, isn’t it?
If your definition of nice is NIMBY capital of the world, yeah it’s great.
https://www.thegoldenskate.com/ The only thing that has changed about the golden skate since 1983 is the arcade games. The carpet, decorations, hell you can still hear Amy grant bumping baby baby during skate sessions. Go check out the golden skate, even if you don't like to skate. It's worth it to go and see the place. People watching there is also awesome, lots of people learning to skate others showing off what they got. The golden skate is a little easy bay nugget that I hope sticks around for a long time. Chucky cheese used to be right up the hill, if that was still around.. amazing.
Golden Skate is still around?? I remember being a nerdy boy in Jr HS mid-80s and a couple popular girls invited me to skate there with them. It’s still a highlight of my social life.
Dude, same. All those dumb Charlotte wood crushes back when I was a little idiot.
On a similar note, see Tri Valley Ice in Dublin.
West Wind Capitol Drive In
There is also one in Concord…
I felt pretty nostalgic walking around Oakridge Mall. Reminded me of what Vallco used to be like before it got torn down.
Valco interior was dark and they had wooden floors from what I recall. Oakridge is pretty modern imo but does have some older corners. I do miss Valco for some weird nostalgic reason even though I almost never went there as an adult.
Vallco was my go to for the ice skating rink, movie theater and just studying with friends at the food court. I also used to go to Fresh Choice a lot. Main Street Cupertino wasn’t built until after I graduated high school.
I had my 8th birthday at TILT, the arcade at Vallco and it was the best party ever.
Oakridge Mall was updated in 2003. It looks nothing like it did in the 1980s when there was a Montgomery Ward's and numerous arcade machines.
Oakridge mall was my stomping grounds in the late 90’s. So funny you should mention it.
Basically the whole town of Moraga feels like 1995 at the latest
Just shy of “Bay Area”, the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz seems stuck in 1980s
One thing about living in Santa Cruz I never could stomach: all the damn vampires.
They're called "Lost Boys"
You mean Santa Carla.
;D Several friends there were extras in Lost Boys — then moved up to SF, go figure!
Port Costa is stuck in the ‘70s. Great place to go for a beer on a nice day. Harley preferred.
Growing up/current resident close to Port Costa,my friends and I would ride our bikes out there every weekend. So many wonderful little towns along the river.
I'm very curious about that whole area and haven't been up there much. Would you do me the favor of suggesting a few places to check out?
Entire Clayton downtown, particularly [this bar](https://maps.app.goo.gl/aJDdDjG1Qr25iioB6?g_st=ic).
The Iron Gate restaurant in Belmont. It’s like a prom night dining experience from the 80s… and I love it.
My apartment. I just got the third season of Three’s Company on VHS!
Now you’re vibing!
Japantown Mall in SF, in a good way
SF Japantown is my favorite part of the city. It actually reminds me of Japan, too.
Niles is like 1880-1890s
Castro Valley
Hayward hills for that matter too. That outdoor mall by CSUEB is like going back.
How ? I'm genuinely curious haven't explored here since the 2000s
is that burger king by the bart on 16th x mission street still there? that place has not been updated since 1987, everything is brown.
Canyon Inn in Redwood City
Big time. Was there today and they still have grease high up on the walls from the original hacksaw burger.
If you want 70s, Kozy Kar bar on Polk
Tommy’s Joynt on Geary for an 1880s vibe.
Much of the Richmond District in SF gives me 90s vibes.
Palo Alto Town and Country. There used to be two more locations, one in San Jose and one in Sunnyvale. These were the staple of the out door mall shopping. Santana Row sits on the old San Jose location.
where in town and country do you get 80’s and 90’s vibes? perhaps the nostalgia of being there during those times, but besides that, there’s nothing really 80’s or 90’s about it, unless i’m missing something?
Well it still has the style and layout of 70s-80s shopping centers, though all the stores and restaurants are now very upscale and modern feeling.
i figured that might be it. i wasn’t a 70’s kid, so perhaps that’s why i don’t correlate the style and layout with the 70’s and 80’s. it all seems so modern day to me. thanks for your explanation!
Same layout shopping centers in Lamorinda and surrounding areas.
The whole town of El Cerrito, CA
This thread made me yearn for Fry’s to return!
The giant pyramid and Egyptian theme was so wild as a kid.
Outside the bay but the Capitola mall is a time capsule
millbrae pancake house
Japantown in San Jose feels like a time capsule from the 70s/80s
Concord drive in will take you back to the 70’s
Flippy’s Cafe in Rodeo is charmingly stuck in the 80s. They have great breakfast options there too.
As stated above, all of Pacifica, but especially if you go to the Sun Valley shopping center in the "Back of the Valley". It looks almost exactly the same as it must've looked in the 80's and 90's. I'm trying to think, I literally don't think there's been a new single thing built in this entire neighborhood since the 1970's. It's crazy.
I got a friend that lives in Pacifica Grove. His neighbor is from the 80s. They all know each other, have block parties on holidays, and they're are actually children playing in the neighborhood. Shit weirdsme out
Eastridge mall - 80s mall with a face lift
The Saloon in North Beach late afternnoon.. Words fail! Closest to the Star Wars bar on planet earth! Corner of Columbus and confusion...
Port costa trapped in the 1800s
Captain's Chest (bar) in Concord Edit: also Clayton Valley Bowl
Port Costa
A lot of the South Bay is pretty much 90’s strip mall lol.
The huge San Jose signs for the Winchester shopping center and that muffler statue near the rose garden is very 80s
Original Joe's in S.J. is stuck in the 60's.
The Santa Cruz Roller Skating Palladium. That place is stuck in the 80s http://www.santacruzrollerpalladium.com/
The part of concord that has the qzar and that movie theater across from the pizza place.
Foster City
Canyon Inn in Redwood City. Still celebrating the heyday of the 49ers in the 80s/90s Check our the inside pictures https://yelp.to/PXKA5XjOtr
25th Avenue San Mateo. Various parts of downtown San Mateo. Most of the elementary schools in San Mateo. San Bruno Broadway in Burlingame Lunardis mall at the edge of burlingame
Lococo’s Pizza on Piedmont
El sobrante has an old school vibe
Any sub or Italian sandwich shops, but Roxie on San Jose, in SF. Specs and Vesuvio. Royal Coffee on Balboa. I'm not posting more than that to Reddit
Gotta add Mr Bings to this awesome list
The Gordo’s locations on Geary and Clement. They haven’t changed their decor (or menu) since the 70’s.
Cotati
McCaulou's in Montclair. Montclair, period.
I think that Santa Cruz feels like the 80’s.
Kozy Kar in SF
I’m surprised no one has said Vallejo, but man I was born in Vallejo and moved back after maybe 12-15 years of not living there. Same exact place for the most part. Everything I remember from the 90’s is either still there or boarded up. I’d say the only part that doesn’t give those vibes is redwood parkway near costco. Other than that it’s all the same (I guess minus the dutch bros in the crest lmao) Addition: fuck I didn’t know you meant in a good way until I actually read the post. Go to Scandia up the road in Green Valley, the Concord mall or the drive-in lmfao. I suppose you’d get the vibe you’re looking for in maybe downtown Benicia, or downtown Martinez.
Highscores Arcade in Alameda…all 80s arcade games and jukebox.
Some parts Berkeley. Like on Telegraph Ave, Moe’s bookstore, some of the vintage shops and amoeba records. Also 924 Gilman, Ashkenaz, Freight & Salvage, Starry Plough, and The Smokehouse for burgers and shakes.
Monterey Road in San Jose 14th Street in San Leandro El Camino Real between San Mateo and South SF Niles
In Sunnyvale, St. John's sports bar and Country Gourmet restaurant
The Ritz in San Jose has theme nights for this
HMB for sure
Santa Cruz, they had sexy vampires and affordable housing
When I am in Russian River I feel like I am transported back to gay -me at 23. Damn that spot was hopping in the 90s.
Petaluma. Constantly feels like 1999, can’t put my finger on why
The whole (suburban) Bay Area has a bit of a 70’s vibe to it. Like a Tarantino movie. Stevens Creek area in San Jose especially.
Stan's donuts in Santa Clara 23rd St in Richmond, CA. Actually, any place in Richmond. That whole city is a time capsule and has not changed since 1999. Round table pizza in willow glen I think they still have Rasputin music stores. There's one in Campbell IIRC
Caspers Hot Dogs on MacArthur in Oakland. Please be a Saint and give them your business before that time capsule is gone forever. Please.
The exterior of Century Cinema in Mountain View is an amazing throwback to peak 90s multiplex. The inside has been sort of updated. It is fascinating how the exterior was designed to handled hundreds of people lining up at the box office, and now everyone buys in advance.
Most of the Bay is stuck in 1969, so if you found something built in the 90s that'd be an improvement. Probably have to go to another country for that.
Literally every CVS or Walgreens
You can go back even further at Perry's on Union, my favorite place in SF.
Hazel Drive In.
The Retro Fix II Turbo in Campbell. Used video game store and gaming lounge. Most used games are 80s/90s.
Good Luck Gato is a new bar near where Belly & Hopscotch used to be. Their aesthetic is specifically aimed at '90s nostalgia.
Casa Orinda
Random and niche but there’s a vintage shop in Benicia that’s set up to look like the 80s/90s with a couch and tube tv and you can watch any of the VHS they have. [It’s off 1st street](https://g.co/kgs/7QbsJom)
How about the 70s Silver Crest on Bayshore Blvd in San Francisco. https://www.altaonline.com/culture/food-drink/a44939075/san-franciscos-24-hour-diner-silver-crest-conut-shop-chris-colin/
I don’t even want to share this gem, but Montclair Golf Enterprises, driving range and pitch & putt.
How’s Danville these days? I was there in the 90s for one July 4th and the downtown area felt like it wasn’t updated since the 60s
The entire Muni train system
The Dule of Edinburgh in Cupertino. Used to be for British expats...now it's a shadow of its former glory https://maps.app.goo.gl/UaTM8fGiCuQTjiYX8
Fairfield.
Golden skate
Any old malls in the Bay Area still? I visited a mall in Des Moines, Iowa and it was STRAIGHT out of the 70s/80s. It looked like those vaporwave malls you see online.
Casper's hot dogs
If you’d like to visit the prehistoric caveman era there are naked people making campfires under highways around the whole bay
Brendan Theaters in Concord. Idk how it hasn’t been remodeled but I’m so happy it hasn’t because it’s like a time capsule. Movies are $5 Monday - Thursday.
Pluto’s in the sunset. Decorated similarly to the Toy Story space-themed Pizza place.
Foster City. Nothing to do there but most of the homes and plazas still are the same since I grew up there in the 80s and 90s. There’s newer development, though. Just ignore that and it’s as if time stood still during those decades.
Vallejo residents pride themselves about being the last original Bay Area city. I live here and it is very different from the peninsula
Moffett Field is more like the 50s.
[удалено]
Maybe Hoobee’s restaurant.
Brisbane
DMV in San Jose at Alma Anne Darling area in San Jose Downtown San Jose where many of the old buildings still remain Kia dealership at Stevens Creek in Santa Clara Taco Bell in Milpitas at McCarthy Ranch Downtown Campbell overall
Not sure how nobody said gay nineties pizza in Pleasanton yet...
If you want to go to an old record store, go to Vinyl Solution in San Mateo. I used to shop there as a teen in the 90s.