As Stephen Curtis Chapman sings in Dancing with the Dinosaur about living his life with conscience and conviction, this song may be playing in an environment much rarer in today's world, the last remaining video stores. Some of you may not know of any that still exist, and many areas don't have a video store nearby. This naturally leads to the question, "Where can I still rent videos at a video store?" This sounds like a very interesting question, because I believe not many of you have been asking this question. There have been many ways this need has been replaced, such as streaming on the Internet for movies and shows and going to Redbox to rent DVDs. Even if you still like watching movies on a physical format, many of the DVDs and VHS tapes are now sold at thrift stores, yard sales, on the internet on Amazon and Ebay, and at different book and record stores, such as Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, FYE, or any independent book or record store that sells movies. Plus, there are video rentals at many libraries across the country. This is why the industry has been rendered obsolete with the chain places all going under and the only ones in existence are independently owned places. Even then, the competition in this industry has forced many of these independently owned stores to go under. So why would you still rent movies at a video store?
Why am I even writing this list about an activity that has become largely irrelevant in the 21st century? Even though I haven't rented movies from a video store since 2008, I often do visit the movies section at the local thrift store to search for movies and own an old TV, which I got for Christmas a couple years ago, with a DVD/VCR combo to watch old movies on. For this reason, even though I haven't rented from a video store in years or even lived near an active video store, I do believe it is cool to hear of some that do exist. Some of the first stores I saw close that I enjoyed going to, were video stores. This was hard to see, but I understand with new technology coming in and it being replaced by a new and more efficient way. But it is cool to see a remnant from a different time era that is still operating, and I do want to see them keep going for this reason. I believe that some of you may want to relive the nostalgia of growing up with visiting these places. Maybe you are a child who was intrigued from hearing your parents mention their experiences at the old-time video store and may want to relive it yourself, sort of like the experience of going back in time (Hayden's Business Blog: Hungry for tacos? There's a new restaurant in Folsom that is opening soon that will help fill your hunger. (haydenbusinessblog.blogspot.com). Maybe your interest in this field has sparked since you have heard in the news about there being a Blockbuster still in business in Bend, Oregon. Maybe you want to hear about more video stores that are still open and operating.
I created this list because, sadly, there aren't really any good lists of active video stores on the Internet. I felt like I needed to fill a void in Here is the list that I have come up with that has much of this information.
Remaining Video Rental Stores still in business:
Alabama: 2 open video stores
Big Mix Video, Huntsville, AL-Open. Opened in 2023.
Toad Frog Alley Video and Tanning, Cleveland, AL-Open
Video Hut, Centre, AL-Open, but don't do movie rentals.
West Side Video, Athens, AL-Open
Alaska: 2 open video stores
ETZ Video, Fairbanks, AK- Closed in 2021.
Video City,
Anchorage, AK-Open
Rainbow Video, Anchorage, AK-Open
Arizona: 6 open video stores
Superstar Video, Glendale, AZ- Open
The House of Used Movies/Games/Music, Mesa, AZ- Open
Rodeo Video, Snowflake, AZ-Open
Show Business, Prescott, AZ- Open
The Dome, Show Low, AZ- Open, but doesn't rent videos anymore.
Video Plus, Kayenta, AZ-Closed in 2024, in Navajo Nation.
Arkansas: 5 open video stores
Lepanto Video, Lepanto, AR
Movie Town, Fort Smith, AR-2 locations-US 71-inside HobbyTown USA, and Phoenix-both closed in 2022.
Movie Town, Van Buren, AR-Closed in 2021
Ozark Video, Mountain View, AR-Open
Premiere Video, Pocahontas, AR-Open
Premiere Video, Warren, AR
Video Playhouse, Corning AR-Open
California: 48 open video stores
Azteca Video, Chico, CA-Open
Beach Street Video, Watsonville, CA-Open
Bette's Flicks, San Anselmo, CA-Closed in 2022
Bizarro World, Davis, CA-Open
Broadway Video, Long Beach, CA-Closed in 2023, but could possibly reopen.
Bronco Video, Anaheim, CA-Open
CineFile, Los Angeles, CA- Open
Diego's Video, Lake Forest, CA-Open
Diego's Video, San Juan Capistrano, CA-Open
DVD to Go, Scotts Valley, CA-Open
Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee, North Hollywood, CA-Closed, but might reopen as the collection has been passed to a new owner who wants to open a video store.
Fayes, San Francisco, CA-Open, mainly a coffee shop, but does have movie rentals.
Figueiredo's Videos More, Fort Bragg, CA-Open
Game and Video, Los Angeles, CA-Open
Go Video, Los Angeles, CA-Open
Joe's Video, Santa Rosa, CA-Closed in 2022
L&L Video, Sacramento, CA-Open
La Dolce Video, Arcata, CA-Open
Max Video, Norwalk, CA-Open
Mega Video, Dinuba, CA-Open
Mountain Top Video, Fraizer Park, CA-Open
Paradise Video, Ivanhoe, CA-Open
Pine Grove Video, Pine Grove, CA-Closed in 2022.
Planet Video, Escalon, CA-Closed in 2023
Salzer's Video, Ventura, CA (Closed in 2021)Snowline Video, Pollock Pines, CA-Closed in 2021
Spotlight Video, Eureka, CA-Closed in 2023
Spotlight Video, Fortuna, CA-Closed in 2022
Video Club, National City, CA-Open
Video Depot, Santa Clarita, CA- Open
Video 1, Modesto, CA-Closed in 2022
Video 1, Baldwin Park, CA-Open
Video Plus, Riverside, CA-Closed in 2022
Video Express, Maywood, CA-Open
Video Factory, Alameda, CA-Open
Video King, Bellflower, CA-Open
Video Mex, Porterville, CA-Open
Video Paradiso, Claremont, CA-Open, moved to Montclair along with Rhinos Records
Video Room, Oakland, CA-Closed in 2023
Video Sky, Santa Ana, CA-(Closed in 2021)
Video Stage, Canoga Park, CA-Open
Video Storm, Whittier, CA-Closed in 2022
Video USA Smoke Shop, Baldwin Park, CA-Open
Video Wave of Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA-Open
Vidiots, Los Angeles, CA-Open, opened in 2024
Westside Video, Santa Cruz, CA-Open
WHAMMY!, Los Angeles, CA-Open, a brand-new video store, a surprise in today's economy.
YoYo Video, Montebello, CA-has been open off and on
Colorado: 5 open video stores that aren't closing
EntertainMart, Colorado Springs, CO-Open
Front Row Seat, Cortez, CO-Closed in 2022
Gorehound's Playground, Fort Collins, CO-Open
Norms Video and Arcade, Calhan, CO-Open
Paperback Trading Post, Walsenberg, CO-Open
Video Video/Amazing Discount Shop, Aurora, CO-Open
Connecticut: 2 open video stores
Best Video Film and Cultural Center, Hamden, CT-Open
Critic's Choice Video, Stamford, CT-Closed in 2024
Florida: 7 open video stores
Cap City Video Lounge, Tallahassee, FL-Open
Game On Movies and Games, Largo, FL-Open
Video Heat, Orlando, FL-Closed in 2022
Video News, Leesburg, FL-Open
Viper Video, Tampa, FL-Open
West Video, Hialeah, FL
Yanelis Video, Hialeah, FL-Open
Georgia: 6 stores
Mountain Video, Jasper, GA
Prime Time Video and Tanning, Baxley, GA-Open
Prime Time Video and Tanning, Hazlehurst, GA-Open
Video Bazaar, Milledgeville, GA-Open
Videodrome, Atlanta, GA-Open
Hawaii:
Mountain View Village Video, Mountain View, HI
Idaho: 6 open video stores
CWC Video, Malad City, ID-Open
MPS Electronics, Mountain Home, ID-Open
Video Theater, Couer d Alene, ID-Open
Video Theater, Post Falls, ID- Open
Video Stop, Pocatello, ID-Open
Illinois: 6 open video stores
City Video, Mason City, IL-Open
Express Video, Skokie, IL
Facets, Chicago, IL- Open, also a theater
Mokena Video, Mokena, IL-Open
Video Playground, Chicago, IL-Open
Video Strip, Chicago, IL-Open
Indiana: 2 open video stores
Hometown Video, Brookville, IN-Open
Vulture Video, Bloomington, IN-Open
Iowa:
Games XP Decorah, Decorah, IA-Open
Kansas:
Vintage Stock-5 stores in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita areas.
Kentucky: 5 open video stores
Box Office Video, Edmonton, KY-Open
Ted's Corner, Frankfort, KY-Open
Movie Vault, Lawrenceburg, KY-Open
Star Trax Video and Tanning, Owensboro, KY-Open
Louisiana:
National Video Superstore, West Monroe, LA-Open-, has 35,000 movie titles. It is in the town Duck Dynasty took place in and where the Robertson Family resides. I wonder if Uncle Si still rents movies from this store since he likes watching old video tapes, especially Air Bud. (Duck Dynasty: Si Gets Sick (S5, E1) | Full Episode - Bing video).
Maine: 2 open video stores
Opera House Video, Belfast, ME-Open
Queen City Cinema Club, Bangor, ME-Open
Maryland: 3 open video stores
Beyond Video, Baltimore, MD-Open, has 25,000 movie titles.
Video 95, Hyattsville, MD- Open
Video Biz, Hancock, MD-Open
Massachusetts: 5 open video stores
East Street Video, Pittsfield, MA- Open
Kung Fu Video and DVD, Boston, MA- Open
Movie Town Home Video Center, Indian Orchard, MA- Open
The VU, Jamacia Plain, MA-Open, also a coffee shop.
Video Signals, Maynard, MA- Open
Hometown Video, Hartford, MI- Open
Lightning Video, Detroit, MI-Open
Movieland Video, Powers, MI
Planet Video, Chesaning, MI-Open
Real Video, Sandusky, MI- Closed in 2022
Video Exclusive, Dearborn Heights, MI- Open
Videomation, Cass City, MI- Closed in 2022
Vidiots, Grand Rapids, MI-Open, but I'm not sure their movie collection is for rent.
Variety Video, Eveleth, MN-Open
Video Universe, Minneapolis, MN-Closed in 2023
Movies Etc., St Cloud, MN-Open
Wells Family Video, Wells, MN-phased out of selling videos, now into the cell phone business.
Mississippi: 3 open video stores
Discount Video, Louisville, MS-Open
Jack's Movie Shack, Laurel, MS-Closed in 2023
Video News, Magee, MS- Didn't find enough information whether it is open or closed.
Missouri: 2 open traditional video stores, plus the video section at Vintage Stock
Hometown Video, Lebanon, MO-Open
Nickelflix, St Louis, MO-Open, doesn't do video rentals, but prices are only $2 dollars for DVDs and $4 for Blu Rays. No VHS tapes.
Route 66 Video, Cape Girardeau, MO
Starlite Video, Holden, MO- Didn't find enough information whether it is open or closed.
Vintage Stock- has 17 stores across the state.
Montana- 3 open video stores that aren't closing
Dillon Video, Dillion, MT-Open
Hollywood Video, Helena, MT-Open
Mikes Movies and More, Great Falls, MT-Closed in 2022
Movie Lovers, Bozeman, MT-currently closed, but there are plans to reopen at some point.
Park Plaza Video, Anaconda, MT-Closed in 2022
Nebraska: 2 open video stores
Chris Logan's Call Video, Norfolk, NE- Closing, has 33,000 movie titles.
Movie Place Video, Seward, NE-Open
Nevada-2 open video stores
Video World, Yerington, NV-Open
Video King, Reno, NV-Open
New Hampshire
Your Movie Warehouse, Wolfeboro, NH-Open, you can buy movies, but I'm not sure you can rent any.
DPS Computer Service and Video Rental, Campton, NH-Open
New Jersey:
Bandit Video, Sicklerville, NJ-Open
Manilo's Video, Vineland, NJ
New Mexico: 9 open video stores
DVD Plus, Albuquerque, NM-Open
Film Festival at Home, Los Alamos, NM-Open
Front Row Seat, Bloomfield, NM- heard they closed,
Front Row Seat, Farmington, NM- heard they're closing, but can't find any official information.
Front Row Seat, Gallup, NM- heard they're closing, but can't find any official information.
Front Row Seat, Kirtland, NM
Gabe's Movie Time, Thoreau, NM
Video Library, Santa Fe, NM-Open, has 16,000 movie titles.
Video Casa, Taos, NM-Closed in 2023
Video Shack, Shiprock, NM-Open
Video Shack, Socorro, NM-Open
New York: 8 open video stores
Film Noir Cinema, Brooklyn, NY-Open
HQ Video, New York, NY-Open, has mostly Japanese Movies
Majors Records and Video, Staten Island, NY-Open
Video Visions, Chatham, NY -Open, has 22,000 movie titles.
Video Vortex-Brooklyn, NY-Open, inside Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Village Mall Video, Webster, NY
North Carolina: 5 open video stores
Big Video Outlet, Rutherfordton, NC-Open
Flick Video, Spruce Pine, NC-(Closed in 2021)
Orbit DVD, Asheville, NC-Open
Showtime Video, Walnut Cove, NC-Open
Video Vortex, Raleigh, NC-Open
VisArt Video, Charlotte, NC-Open, has 35,000 movie titles
North Dakota:
DisKonnect, Watford City,
ND-Open
Wahpeton Video, Wahpeton, ND-Open, not sure they still do video rentals as their main business focus is being a deli and a market, which they recently remodeled. So, they may or may not still do movie rentals.
Ohio:
Bryan's Video Trader, Heath, OH-Open, I don't think they do rentals, but do have large selection of movies.
Clines Video Rental, Martins Ferry, OH-Open
Coreno's Video, Cleveland, OH-Open
In Home Video, Parma, OH
Oklahoma: 6 open traditional video stores, plus the rentals at Vintage Stock.
2001 Video, Hobart, OK
Discount Video and Guns, Pauls Valley, OK-Open
Eagle Video Rental, Sayre, OK
MovieTown, Stillwell, OK-Open
Pizza Place and Video Zone, Clayton, OK-Open
Reel Deal Video Store, Del City, OK-Open
Rent A Flick Video, Checotah, OK
Vintage Stock, has 13 locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas.
Oregon: 22 open video stores
Abraxas Video Rental, Cottage Grove, OR-Open, currently closed for a remodel to become more of a video buying store and diversifying operations, not sure when they will be reopening- has 55,000 movie rentals-DVDs, Blu Ray Discs, and VHS Tapes
Blockbuster Video, Bend, OR- Open. Has DVD, Blu Ray, and a small selection of VHS tapes.
Brownsville Video, Brownsville, OR-Open
Empire Video, Creswell, OR-Open
Great American Video and Espresso, Milwaukie, OR-Open
John Day Video Shoppe, John Day, OR-Open
Just in Video, Gresham, OR-Closed in 2022
Media Mogul, Lincoln City, OR-Open
Movie Madness Video, Portland, OR-Open, has 80,000 movie titles. DVDs, Blu Rays, and VHS.
Mr. Video, Keizer, OR-Closed in 2022, not sure if they will reopen. Were looking for a new home. has 25,000 movie titles. DVDs and Blu Rays, no VHS movies.
Mr. TV Video, Pendleton, OR-Open
Peanut Gallery, La Grande, OR (Closed in 2021)
Umpqua Video, Roseburg, OR- Closed in 2022
Video Horizons, Astoria, OR-Open, has 35,000 movie titles. Has DVD, Blu Ray, and VHS rentals.
Video Hut, Prineville, OR-Open, phased out of video rentals and is now a game store.
Video Wave, Reedsport, OR-Open
Video World, Grants Pass, OR-Open, has DVD, Blu Ray, and VHS rentals.
We-B Video, Oakridge, OR-Open
Ya-Hots Video Country Store, Yachats, OR-Open
Pennsylvania:
Arizona Video, Pottsville, PA- Open, I'm not sure they do rentals, but you can definitely buy movies from this store.
Film Fest Video, North East, PA
L&D Video, Grindstone, PA-Open
Jack's Discount Video, Millvale, PA-Open
M&T Video and Games, Shamokin, PA-Open
Oil City Movie Stop, Oil City, PA-Open
Video Bonanza, Quakertown, PA-Open, I'm not sure they do rentals, but you can definitely buy movies from this store.
Video Haven, Somerset, PA-Open
Videos n More, Mifflintown, PA
South Carolina: 2 open video stores
Main Attraction Video, Blacksburg, SC-Closed in 2022
Movie Mania, Clover, SC-Open
Video Warehouse, Beaufort, SC-Open
South Dakota: 1 open video store
Movie Mania, Pierre, SD-Closed in 2023
Black Lodge, Memphis, TN-Open
Danger Zone Video and More, Mt Juliet, TN-Open. Opened in 2022.
Little Mountain Video, Pikeville, TN-Closed in 2023
Movie Depot, Spring City, TN-Closed in 2024
Northside Video, McMinnville, TN-Open
Video Corner and Tanning, Lafayette, TN-Open
Video Quest, Carthage, TN-Open
Video Stop, Somerville, TN-Open
Video Store, Lewisburg, TN-Open
Video Villa, Mt. Pleasant, TN-Open
Video Village, Lawrenceburg, TN-Closed in 2022
Texas: 29 open video stores
Action Video, San Benito, TX-Open
EntertainMart- 5 locations in Kerrville, Midland, Tyler, Wichita Falls, Waco, Abilene, and Longview
Good Time Video, Naples, TX-Open
Hit Video Rental, Baytown, TX-Open
Movie Night, Mission, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Arlington, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Belt Line, Dallas, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Greenville, Dallas, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Camp Wisdom, Dallas, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Denton, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Fort Worth, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Frisco, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Hurst, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Irving, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, Lewisville, TX-Open
Movie Trading Company, McKinney, TX-Open
On Video Movie Rental, Baird Farm, Arlington, TX-Open
On Video Movie Rental, Park Springs, Arlington, TX-Open
South East Texas Video, Kountzke, TX-Open
Turnaround Video, Killeen, TX-Open
Video Latino, Irving, TX
Video Station Superstore, Taylor, TX-Open
Video Super, Austin, TX-Open
We Luv Video, Austin, TX-Open. Opened in 2023 to revive I Luv Video, which closed in 2020.
Utah: 2 open video stores, plus 2 entertainment stores that have video rentals
Top Hat Video, Bountiful, UT-Closed in 2023
Tower Video, Salt Lake City, UT- still in business, but currently closed due to renovations on the movie theater which it is a part of.
Vermont:
Nancy's Video, Irasburg, VT-Closed in 2023
Virginia:
Dollar Video, Fairfax, VA
Keysville Video Rental, Keysville, VA
Reclaim Video, Fredericksburg, VA-Open
Naro Video, Norfolk, VA-even though they have closed their doors, they have donated their 42,000 movie titles to the Old Dominion University's library where it will be made visible once again to the public.
Film is Truth 24 Times A Second, Bellingham, WA-Closed in 2022, collection has been donated as a whole to a local nonprofit to maybe reopen a similar venture.
Jim's Video, Kettle Falls, WA- Google lists them as temporarily closed.
Reckless Video, Seattle, WA-Closed in 2021
The Video Store, Cathlamet, WA-Open
St Jacks Video, Wapato, WA-Open
West Virginia: 3 open video stores
D&J Movie Rentals, Montgomery, WV-Open
Movie Man, Charleston, WV-Open, also a tanning salon
Video Magic and Tanning, Moorefield, WV-Open
Wisconsin: 4 open video stores
Four Star Video Rental, Madison, WI-Open
Riverwest Film and Video, Milwaukee, WI-Open
Vanguard Video 2, Oconomowoc, WI-Open
Video N Game Gallery, Elkhorn, WI-Closed in 2022
Video Vision, Superior, WI-Closed in 2024
Total in the United States: 255 open video rental stores.
The question that I have is, how are these places still making it?? It is really cool to see or hear about video stores that are still operating. But how do they make it?? Streaming has become much more convenient for the average person as you can search for any movie with a click of a button, instead of driving a few minutes to the closest video rental store to spend ten minutes to search for videos and then drive back home to watch them. Redbox is also inside grocery stores, so you can accomplish two errands in one building rather than going to two different places. So, they lose on the convenience end. On the prices, Redbox tends to be the cheapest of the options, and streaming, when it is free. But the library tends to be reasonable in their prices for rentals also. This could be an argument for them to be cheaper, but the library is run by the government, which subsidizes the costs of operation through taxes and fees, which could be the reason why they are cheaper in many cases. This may not be a feasible option for a video store in order to be profitable. But as I was researching this subject, I noticed that many of these stores are not for profit entities anymore but operate as a nonprofit video library for the arts community. Scarecrow Video in Seattle, Washington, Movie Madness Video in Portland, Oregon, and Vidiots in Los Angeles, California are the most well-known examples of this method of operation. They weren't operating as mere outliers who could miraculously survive in the Redbox and Netflix world without any change. These places have needed to change in order to survive. Some have moved to become nonprofits, some have moved to doing other things in their business along with having video rentals such as tanning, mail service, and selling wireless phones, some have become a tourist attraction, and others operate because their owner remains committed to the business even as it loses money and then retires after he is done. But there are things that unite these examples which help these places survive. I believe these are 1. loyalty, 2. a sense of community, 3. the nostalgia associated with these businesses, and 4. in some areas, but not many, poor internet access in an area. Loyalty because even if people have moved on to the new way of things, they may still rent from a video store if they really like the service or if they are close friends with the owner. This is the case with most local businesses and is not necessarily limited to just video stores. A sense of community because some of these stores have different events where movie lovers can gather and discuss their favorite movies, which Redbox and Netflix don't have. Nostalgia because they were a significant part of life in the 1980s, 90s, and early and mid 2000s and many may want to relive this experience they had because it brings them to their childhood or a happy place in their life. They could survive because the internet access is bad in an area, as Blockbuster Video in Alaska was able to do for a while (https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2017/07/30/in-alaska-pricey-internet-and-nostalgia-keep-video-stores-alive/). But it isn't necessarily a strong one because they did end up closing those stores and only three video stores remain in Alaska to my knowledge.
I was honestly surprised at where all these video stores still remain, because I thought all of them were in these small mountain or farm towns where Internet access isn't the greatest. I would have expected areas such as Barrow, Alaska, Alturas, California, Salmon, Idaho, Blanding, Utah, much of West Virginia, and other small towns to be the ones to have these Methuselah's of the world. But I noticed many of these video stores still open and thriving are in big cities, such as Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, and other cities, which have great internet access and are usually forward with the times. There are some that hang on in small mountain towns, such as Nevada City Video, Pine Grove Video, Nancy's Video, and Mountain Top Video. But these have usually been hanging on by the thread or survive because the owner remains committed to keep it open until he or she retires. Even with poor internet access, many of these places have Redbox kiosks, public libraries to rent videos from, and Netflix does have the DVD by mail service.
These are my findings and my thoughts about the video store industry, and I hope that you enjoyed what you saw and that you might be motivated to research the subject on your own!! Speaking of this, for anyone who still owns a VCR, does anyone know what the best way is to clean the VCR heads?? I have taken a hiatus with using the VCR for a year now as it ate a couple tapes, and I would like to clean the heads so it could work properly for me to use again.
This is a picture of the fictional video store, called Methuselah Video, that I drew. It is a lighthearted representation of the last remaining video stores that have outlived the industry. It is called Methuselah's because as many of these stores outlived the industry, Methuselah lived to be 969 years old, longer than any other man who has ever lived. I have the Disney Cars shopping here as I have Methuselah represented as a 1969 Pontiac GTO, who is Mater's Dad in my Cars story.
Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
