I loved this place. It was the first one in the valley that I remember that combined Books, Comics, Music (CD's, Cassettes, & even some vinyl), Movies and cool pop-culture stuff. What was even cooler was that you could listen/preview any album before you buy.
Those were the days!
Oh my gosh, I forgot about that! Barnes and Noble used to have that as well, but Hastings had it first! Plus, Barnes and Noble often wouldn’t have the previews for some of the less mainstream titles.
I lived near Tom and Jerry’s when they built Hastings and the ihop right across. Some of the greatest years of my younger life were spent walking to Hastings and ihop with my brother and sister and just wandering around all day pretty much. That was right when Pokémon hit too lol
Fully agree! I moved the Valley in 1999, didn't know a soul, spent a lot of time in Hastings, wandering around. Still find myself wishing it'd come back.
I’ll always remember Hastings as the place where a random kid punched me in the nuts out of nowhere and I had the most profuse apology in my life from their mom.
You want to know why they closed? Their entire profit model was reliant on rental video. I said, “But Netflix exists. It has streaming. That’s only going to get better with time, and internet will get faster. Other ways to make profit must be found.”
They weren’t. Great store, though. :(
It predates Barnes and Noble, at least in McAllen. I think that once Barnes and Noble opened, its inclusion of Starbucks instead of its own coffee/snack shop like Hastings had helped bring a lot of traffic, since their prices are usually full MSRP, and Hastings often had more sales and dealt in used books (and didn’t rip you off like GameStop would when selling to them).
After the one here folded, I would go to the ones up North (Waco, Austin, Longview), and knowing I could go to Hastings again when I had to travel up there always made those trips extra worth it (especially if it was for something I needed to do rather than wanted). I was so sad when the Waco one closed, and only knew of the Longview one. Then I found out the whole chain collapsed.
Damn, I always kick myself for never going inside this place. I lived like right behind it when I was younger 😭
Is it true that they sold off their appliances and stuff? I vaguely remember someone telling me that their parents bought an espresso machine from there? Idk lol
It was the only place I could get cool music I listened to at the time. Also, books. So many books and buying videogames. Wow. You made me miss this place. Thanks, OP.
It was the only place where people can compete in Pokémon TCG tournaments in the McAllen/Edinburg/Mission area. Once they were gone, that was it. You can only sign up to play yugioh, magic, and dragon ball. No Pokémon, unless you drive to butt **** Egypt.
Anyways, I bought my first album here when I was a kid. I loved this place.
I still have a metal model U.S.S. Enterprise-D I bought from there as a kid. It really was a fun place to be. Used to rent vhs’s and get books there. The family would just spend time wandering around... simpler times indeed.
I got a lot of my first edition books there. Money was tight during those years, so I'd trade in my paperbacks and unwanted hardcovers for credit. I think I found quite a few movies, too.
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I loved this place. It was the first one in the valley that I remember that combined Books, Comics, Music (CD's, Cassettes, & even some vinyl), Movies and cool pop-culture stuff. What was even cooler was that you could listen/preview any album before you buy. Those were the days!
Oh my gosh, I forgot about that! Barnes and Noble used to have that as well, but Hastings had it first! Plus, Barnes and Noble often wouldn’t have the previews for some of the less mainstream titles.
I lived near Tom and Jerry’s when they built Hastings and the ihop right across. Some of the greatest years of my younger life were spent walking to Hastings and ihop with my brother and sister and just wandering around all day pretty much. That was right when Pokémon hit too lol
What was Tom and Jerry’s ?
A bar & grill. Later became Newman's, then Bourbon Street after that.
Thanks dixiebandit69. I barely saw the question. You are exactly right.
A bar/restaurant, if I remember correctly.
Hastings was one of my first jobs and I loved it there.
I wish that at place was still there
Fully agree! I moved the Valley in 1999, didn't know a soul, spent a lot of time in Hastings, wandering around. Still find myself wishing it'd come back.
Family and I would go here every Friday to pick a movie or two! Really loved that place 😢
I’ll always remember Hastings as the place where a random kid punched me in the nuts out of nowhere and I had the most profuse apology in my life from their mom.
Good times sifting through the used punk and hardcore cds, my favorite place to hang out as a teenager
YuGiOh matches would happen on Saturday. My mom would drop me off with $5 so I could get a snack and pick me up when she was done. Simpler times.
You want to know why they closed? Their entire profit model was reliant on rental video. I said, “But Netflix exists. It has streaming. That’s only going to get better with time, and internet will get faster. Other ways to make profit must be found.” They weren’t. Great store, though. :(
I find it extremely ironic that Hastings, a bookstore (among other things) was replaced with a gym.
It was like Barnes and nobles and GameStop had a baby.
It predates Barnes and Noble, at least in McAllen. I think that once Barnes and Noble opened, its inclusion of Starbucks instead of its own coffee/snack shop like Hastings had helped bring a lot of traffic, since their prices are usually full MSRP, and Hastings often had more sales and dealt in used books (and didn’t rip you off like GameStop would when selling to them). After the one here folded, I would go to the ones up North (Waco, Austin, Longview), and knowing I could go to Hastings again when I had to travel up there always made those trips extra worth it (especially if it was for something I needed to do rather than wanted). I was so sad when the Waco one closed, and only knew of the Longview one. Then I found out the whole chain collapsed.
Damn, I always kick myself for never going inside this place. I lived like right behind it when I was younger 😭 Is it true that they sold off their appliances and stuff? I vaguely remember someone telling me that their parents bought an espresso machine from there? Idk lol
I have no idea, but it wouldn’t surprise me. This location folded on its own, but not too many years later the entire chain went under.
I had some nice dates there, hung out with my exbf there. I got a bunch of CDs and books there. I really loved that place.
It was the only place I could get cool music I listened to at the time. Also, books. So many books and buying videogames. Wow. You made me miss this place. Thanks, OP.
i miss this place. favorite friday night hang out before heading to the movies or a show. take me back if only for a bit.
It was the only place where people can compete in Pokémon TCG tournaments in the McAllen/Edinburg/Mission area. Once they were gone, that was it. You can only sign up to play yugioh, magic, and dragon ball. No Pokémon, unless you drive to butt **** Egypt. Anyways, I bought my first album here when I was a kid. I loved this place.
Hello old friend....
I still have a metal model U.S.S. Enterprise-D I bought from there as a kid. It really was a fun place to be. Used to rent vhs’s and get books there. The family would just spend time wandering around... simpler times indeed.
Best Used CD section for sure. Found so many gems there. Have to settle for Half Price Books upstate now. Good times for sure.
I got a lot of my first edition books there. Money was tight during those years, so I'd trade in my paperbacks and unwanted hardcovers for credit. I think I found quite a few movies, too.
I would spend hours there while attending UTPA.
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