Sitting in a sea of neon, geometric-patterned tabletops, Christopher Knecht looks perfectly at home in his ripped denim jeans and sleeveless vest.
Knecht is a third-generation collector who owns 10 storage sheds, containing 600 square feet of late ‘70s through early ‘90s memorabilia, some of which he inherited from his father and grandfather.
As a child of the ’80s, Knecht had accompanied his father as a vendor to the local flea market. From that experience, he had always aspired to grow up and sell his own wares, and in 2014 opened the doors to his themed retail store, Back to the 80’s Store & More, now stationed in Rancho Cordova.
The business was a retirement gift to himself after serving six years in the marine corps and spending a lifetime working in the restaurant industry, and its success has been riding a resurgent wave of the ‘80s in popular culture. Knecht says he started noticing ‘80s trends — such as remakes of the decade’s blockbusters — driving demand, which exploded when “Stranger Things” was released on Netflix in 2016.
He recently reopened the business as Back to the 80’s Cafe & More in November 2017 after briefly shutting down the vintage store to focus on expanding into a restaurant. Knecht compares the fast-casual concept to retro 1950s diners, complete with classic American fare like sandwiches and milkshakes, but updated for the modern era where ‘80s nostalgia reigns supreme.