Kind of like the Prada in Marfa, it could be an art project and contain Radio Shack, Blockbuster and other stores from that time that aren’t around anymore.
Edit: I meant as more of an art project, not an actual functioning stores. They’re no longer in business for a reason, though I could see vinyl loving types unironically shopping there.
In this economy?
Do you know what it would cost to build one of those stores for an “art project”. More than it would have cost when they were in full swing, no more economy of scale savings. A Radio Shack sign alone would be 10 or $15K today.
EDIT: I mean this type of sign. Having looked at the signs, I see now that they were made at many different quality levels, but this is the sort of sign I was thinking of:
I could see it working as a themed area inside a larger tourist theme park with rides and things. If most of the structure is fake just to get the look right on the surface it might not be too pricey to setup and could generate revenue just on admittance fees.
for internal signs, about $30 for large prints. they come shipped in a large roll.
it’s far cheaper than you think, what hurts you is things you cant simulate with plastic/cardboard/etc. actual goods on display.
depending on the business you are targeting and the era. getting products to display that are in mint condition is expensive.
surprisingly, the cheapest ones are clothing stores. you can just pick up reproductions. the plastic pushtags and original product label tags are cheap to make if you have references. they just make them in sheets with cardboard backing. you make a stencil, mark the outlines of each tag with a hobby knife and cut them out.
the most expensive cost is the space. leasing and restoring/maintaing a space is not cheap. even “abandoned” malls still want premiums for those stores…