We've laboured this point a few times in the past, but it's important to remember that UK high-street retailer CeX didn't start out as the technological swap shop it is today – in the beginning, it was primarily concerned with imported games and hardware from Japan and North America, and was one of the leading venues when it came to sourcing the latest and great gaming gear.
Before it morphed into the repository of second-hand mobile phones and DVDs that we know and love today, CeX even had its own dedicated retro store – and, it's worth pointing out, this was towards the end of the 1990s, a time when retro was only just becoming recognised as a viable commercial sector of the market.
Based in Whitfield Street – where the first CeX had opened a few years beforehand – the retro shop was packed with delights. Your correspondent recalls visiting in the late '90s to pick up copies of Macross: Do You Remember Love on the Saturn, Aero Blasters on the Mega Drive and even a brand-new and boxed Sega Nomad (which the store seemed to have multiple units of, for some reason). On our first visit, we were informed that the week previously, Hideo Kojima himself had dropped by and kindly signed a bunch of Metal Gear titles.
CeX's standalone retro store wasn't long for this world, sadly, and would soon be absorbed into the nearby Rathbone Place shop (it was in the basement at one point). Now, retro has become a large part of CeX's appeal, but it no longer sells imported items, sadly.
As we grow older our memories of the Whitfield Street unit are fading, so you can imagine how excited we were to stumble across this footage of the shop online – hosted by none other than a youthful-looking Matt Berry.
The segment is from a show called Game Over, which ran between 1998 and 2001. Berry, as we're sure you're all aware, has gone on to bigger and better things, such as Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, Toast of London and The Book of Boba Fett. Given his current stature, it's heartwarming to see him get all excited about the Virtual Boy and King of Fighters '98 on the Neo Geo CD – which, according to shop staffer Ash, was the hot item when this footage was captured.
It's amazing to see this legendary store captured on video, but even more amazing to discover that Berry is a secret hardcore gamer. You learn something new every day!
[source youtube.com]
Comments 13
Matt Berry - “has gone on to bigger and better things, such as Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, Toast of London and The Book of Boba Fett”
You forgot the voice of Poseidon in SpongeBob The Movie: Sponge on the Run and Snuff Box 😀
That was a great shop. I seem to remember thinking everything was very expensive, I bet if I saw those prices today I'd think everything was an utter bargain compared to today's prices! 😂
@BulkSlash My Nomad cost £99 fully boxed and mint. So, yeah.
Don't think I ever went to the Whitfield St shop but the Rathbone Place shop was a regular haunt for me in the early noughties. It was right next to where I worked. They had an immense range of Japanese and American games in the basement it was epic. Picked up a mint copy of Super Mario RPG (USA) for only £60.
Something happened though and they were forced to shut down this side of the operation and suddenly all their stock vanished and staff that dealt in the retro section were seemingly let go. It went from having stacked shelves to virtually nothing. Never found out what happened - does anyone know? - but it was never the same again sadly. Good times.
Yes I remember visiting the Rathbone shop. Downstairs was F**cking retro heaven. It was incredible. Wish I would of bought a lot more then. Now that shop would of been Cleaned out in days I'm sure. Back then most were only interested in the new stuff.
@bring_on_branstons They got into trouble for selling import Nintendo games and R1 DVDs, is what I heard. I think there are news reports online somewhere
@Damo Ahhh thanks for the heads up Damo. What a damn shame it was so cool going in there.
I remember asking another importer just off Carnaby St what happened and he refused to say anything! 20+ years later mystery solved.
He also did the voice of Codsworth in the recent Fallout TV show which I thought was great.
I recommend people search for ‘snuff box boyfriend’ on YouTube and watch Matt Berry doing the boyfriend sketches. They’re hilarious!
I only recently learned about Matt Barry in the absolutely brilliant What We Do in the Shadows. One of the funniest shows I have EVER seen. After binging the entire first five seasons / series, my girlfriend and I are now watching through Toast of London and Year of the Rabbit.
I can't recommend Matt Barry enough to my fellow Americans. He is extremely funny and talented!
FATHEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Bought my copies of The Legend of Zelda (NES) and Teleroboxer (VB) there. Happy memories of heading up to Whitfield Street on the 242 after my sixth-form tutorial had finished! Also the first place I ever saw a PC Engine, which they had running as part of a full briefcase setup behind the glass.
Funny to see footage of the shop now as it's exactly as I remember it!
I never visited this store, but I do remember the basement in Rathbone, bought my region modded SEGA Saturn in there I think. There was also Game Focus on Goodge Street which was great for imports, was a real loss when that went too.
I was near Rathbone recently and went into the basement, it's all just DVDs and Wii games, the service counter downstairs is long gone, along with the massive retro collection in one place. It's a weird feeling to go back there now.
Back then I went to this off Warren Street branch with my saved up money to buy a Neo Geo CD and the gentleman working there advised me to save my cash and for good reasons I soon discovered while there too. That was very nice of him.
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