MIDDLETOWN - Part museum, part toy emporium, Wild Bill's Nostalgia is more than just a store. "It is a way of life, for me, at least," laughs owner Bill Ziegler, as he gestures to posters, records, bobble heads, even a Barbie camper. "When I grew up, everybody - all the kids - collected coins, stamps, political campaign buttons. I collected all my life. Then it gets to a point, 'You've got a lot of stuff, kid.'"
"There is a lot of random stuff here, really interesting things. A lot of 80s stuff," says Eduardo Gait of Haddam.
The King of Kitsch is expanding his business with the reconstruction of an on-site funhouse - which features a "Laugh In The Dark" ride - that he bought from an amusement park in Staten Island that closed. He is trying to raise $100,000 to open it by the summertime. "It's old time rock and roll," he says, "You don't see funhouses in everyone's backyard!"
"Wild Bill's" is located at 1003 Newfield Street in Middletown. The Nostalgia Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm. Check out the web site for more information.