People like Behman Zakeri, who defy superlatives, are fans of the 1985 Steven Spielberg cult classic “The Goonies.” Zakeri, who lives in Kansas, now owns the house where the film was shot in Astoria, after sealing the deal for a cool 1.65 million earlier this month. The Astoria house has been a tourist attraction since the movie first aired in theaters — and for fans worldwide. Zakeri has seen this adventure film countless times.
“You had the five boys and two girls, the bad guys after them. So I think that sense of adventure and that just chase for a treasure hunt — I think everybody someday wants to find an undiscovered treasure. That’s why everybody, I think, plays Powerball right? Trying to hit it.”
The Goonies home is not Zakeri's primary residence. His plans for what he will do with it are "fluid."
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“It was bought as an investment, but I didn’t buy it to keep it to myself. I bought it to share it with the world,” he said. “As long as Goonies are respectful.”
The house next door was purchased by one of Zakeri's childhood friends, who was with him when he first saw the movie. Everyone except for a few neighbors has been extremely supportive, Zakeri says. He and Liz have been busy installing furniture in the house and making it welcoming over the last couple of weeks.
One of those neighbors, Megan Hodges, was clearly not too thrilled about visitors to the famous home. In response to Hodges's sign, "Goonies Not Welcome," dueling signs were hung at the Goonies' and Eakin's houses.
The new owner of the #GooniesHouse has hung up a banner that reads “GOONIES WELCOME” in response to a banner hanging on his neighbor’s house that says “GOONIES NOT Welcome”
His friend that bought the house in between hung a banner that says “IGNORE KAREN” pic.twitter.com/bFklW6Zz5G
— Devon Haskins (@devonhaskins) January 22, 2023
At the Goonies house, a banner read, "Hey You Guys! Goonies Welcome." Next door, an arrow pointed to Hodges' house and said, "Ignore Karen."
“We’re just setting it up. People are still coming by every day. Goonies are coming up the driveway every day and taking their pictures and doing the truffle shuffle.” said Zakeri. “And if I’m outside, you know, I’m, I’m letting them walk up on the porch and stuff like that.”
The owner says he's determined to make sure the house is preserved for other die-hard fans to visit. What that will entail, however, is unclear. Zakeri says he cannot rent the house on a short-term basis, turn it into a museum, or use it in any way for commercial purposes. Like the heroes of the story, he says he won't give up and the adventure will unfold.
