You might think that video stores are a thing of the past – after all, why would you go out and rent a DVD (not to mention own and hook up and maintain a DVD player) when you can just stream whatever you’d like from the comfort of your own home. Right?
Well, much like the purists who swear vinyl is better than any modern music source and people who will defend the movie theater experience to their dying breath, there are those who still cling to the idea of the movie-loving community behind physically renting movies and television shows.
These 15 stores have managed to stay in business, and their communities show them tons of love.
15. Movie Lovers (Bozeman, MT)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHWCtNDrnhx/
You expect to find these kinds of kitschy stores in New York or Los Angeles (and they’re there, too), but it’s a bit more surprising to find one in Bozeman.
Movie Lovers contains 20,000 titles, including some independent and foreign films that can be harder to track down online. They offer all of its customers a chance to erase their late fees every Monday – all they have to do is come in and rent at least three more movies.
Sounds like great incentive all the way around, if you ask me.
14. Video Free Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)
https://www.instagram.com/p/31juRXDPsD/
This store was opened in 2002, much later than most of the businesses on this list. The offer DVD and Blu-ray to rent, and also sell used DVDs.
Film critic Aaron Hillis and his wife, photographer Jennifer Loeber, own the store together and do their best to five back to the local film community by running a podcast, “DVD is the New Vinyl.” On the show, they highlight the best new movies out that week, give staff recommendations for rentals, and host special guests.
13. Video Room (New York, NY)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CD-i_MkFcQh/
This is Manhattans oldest and largest independent video store, and they offer 12,000 titles on DVD – and VHS.
Some of the titles are foreign and otherwise hard-to-find, but they’ve also got new releases and two locations to choose from.
If you want to sign up for one of their Gold or Platinum memberships, they also offer free same-day home pickup and delivery (so New York!).
12. Vidiots (Santa Monica, CA)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjxGG8p80k/
There are more video stores to choose from in the L.A. area, but many locals swear this one is the best. When they recently considered closing their doors, film producer Megan Ellison stepped in with a big donation that saved the store.
They offer a wide array of movies and have a huge and diverse selection, and the owners also host special screening events with huge names headlining – like David O. Russell, Anjelica Huston, and Oliver Stone.
It really seems like the place to be.
11. RAO Video (Little Rock, AR)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPoTHNZll66/
When RAO video started in 1977, they were in a little kiosk at the mall. The family-owned business grew, now offering 30,000 titles, including many that are super hard to find elsewhere.
They also offer a second-floor “adult” movie section, and there’s a vape shop, a beauty parlor, and a computer repair store also on the premises.
10. Scarecrow Video (Seattle, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQjoOAztzEJ/
Scarecrow Video has been open since 1988, and has a collection of over 120,000 titles to show for it, including many rare, out-of-print, foreign, and independent films.
You can even rent laserdisc players, region-free DVD players, and VCRs if you want to check out something on tape.
The store also hosts special film screenings in Seattle.
9. Videodrome (Atlanta, GA)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRM5UlxJiK5/
Videodrome has a huge selection of movies, including many obscure and cult titles.
Their schtick is offering as many genre and subgenres and category selections as you can imagine.
8. Facets (Chicago, IL)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPB1QXbJknI/
This store opened in 1975 as a local art house that screened movies in a church, but over the years they’ve gotten into education, distribution, and the video store, which houses a huge and diverse collection of movies.
Facets also hosts the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival every year, and was a favorite of critic Robert Ebert, who called it a “temple of great cinema.”
7. CineFile Video (Los Angeles, CA)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlpJkf0AVje/
Considered to be a bit edgier than Vidiots, this place offers stranger and more extreme genres and subgenres – and with over 42,000 videos, they’ve truly got things you never could have imagined before stepping through the doors.
If you’re looking to earn a bit of extra cash, they’ll also buy your old DVD and VHS copies.
6. Vulcan Video (Austin, TX)
There are two locations in Austin, and each offers foreign language, cult, and tons of classic films along with all of the typical mainstream fare.
There are several local celebs, like Jimmy Kimmel and Matthew McConaughey, who are big fans.
5. The Flicks (Boise, ID)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP6I7Kqn3VJ/
Downtown Boise has tons of character, and The Flicks – an all-in-one movie theater and video store – definitely only adds more.
They offer hard-to-find titles as well as new releases to rent, and you can browse with a coffee from their cafe and coffee bar.
Their garden patio and fountain are very Boise, and so are their energy-efficient solar panels.
4. Lost Weekend Video (San Francisco, CA)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKeK-H6Hopl/
I love this store’s name, and locals in the Bay Area love everything else about it, too.
It’s been a staple for 20 years and offers over 27,000 titles, while also hosting local comedians for Cinecave Comedy nights.
3. Jet Video (Portland, ME)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDT_6nxTGPx/
You can rent movies and video games here, sure, but you can also mail a letter at the post office or get a cone at the ice cream shop.
Honestly, I don’t know what else you could ask for.
2. The Video Underground (Jamaica Plain, MA)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zu3iOF77Q/
The Video Underground believes its doing good work by urging Boston-area filmmakers to make their movies available to rent locally.
Their wide selection of independent, cult, classic, and foreign films brings patrons in the doors, and their intriguing ways of organizing them always keeps people coming back for more.
1. Videology Bar & Cinema (Brooklyn, NY)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkDcg-EF8c_/
Williamsburg wouldn’t be the same without this video store/bar for movie lovers that’s the mashup of my dreams, to be honest.
They also host weekly events like trivia night, pop culture bingo, and special film screenings of cult classics.
I’m swooning.
I honestly had no idea these still existed, but I’m not mad about it at all.
If you had a physical video store in your neighborhood, would you visit? Tell us why or why not in the comments!
