In the nostalgia collection museum located in Istanbul, 15 thousand different products are on display.

The unforgettable items used in Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s have been gathered and turned into a museum by collector Hakan Çelik in Beylikdüzü. The museum showcases 15,000 different products.

Sometimes, just the image of an old item is enough to take a journey back in time. Hakan Çelik, who started his collecting journey by collecting toys since childhood, gathered household items, school supplies, grocery items, and toys used in the 1980s and 1990s over the years. He thought of bringing together 15,000 different items and later creating a museum. He recorded the weight and color of all the items he collected. Çelik states that citizens visiting the museum want to buy products related to their past, but they do not sell any items. A visitor to the museum can spend an average of 3-4 hours there. The museum, which contains many different products ranging from promotional items distributed by forgotten brands, tube televisions, old white goods, to fake money used by Kemal Sunal in films, is greatly appreciated by those who see it. Inside the museum, there is also a section that describes old home life, school life, and grocery store environments. Additionally, a section describing the old hospital environment is planned to be opened in the museum soon.

“I have about 15,000 pieces in my collection”

Collector Hakan Çelik states that he started by collecting childhood toys, saying, “I used to buy toys from our neighbor. The collection of toys turned into grocery boxes, and then I started gathering materials from old classrooms. My collection began to grow, and my wife and I thought about what to do with the house, and we considered opening a museum. At least, the objects I have preserved will be protected with the museum. I have about 15,000 pieces in my collection, and almost all of the objects here are protected. They are all recorded, down to their weights, and it is impossible for us to sell the objects here. Sometimes our guests really like the products and want to buy them. Unfortunately, we cannot sell the items. Those who come here will definitely catch a memory from their past. Our guests can’t leave here in 2-3 hours. I bought the products here at very reasonable prices because I acquired them in the past. For example, a car I bought for 15 lira is now worth 2,500 Euros. I have traveled to more than 50 provinces in Turkey, and for me, it becomes more important than money.”