14 Video Stores You Forgot You Missed
These 14 video stores once shaped how we watched, shared, and loved movies before streaming made it all feel a little too easy.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Once upon a time, video rental stores were more than just businesses — they were cultural touchstones. From giant chains to mom-and-pop shops, these spaces curated our movie nights, shaped our taste, and connected us to our communities. In remembering them, we remember a time when entertainment was tangible, browsable, and a little more human.
1. Blockbuster Video
Image from Wikipedia
Once the king of Friday nights, Blockbuster offered endless aisles of VHS tapes and later DVDs, lined with worn carpet and the hum of fluorescent lights. The blue-and-yellow signage felt like a warm, familiar glow in every American suburb. Its fall, punctuated by Netflix’s rise, marked the end of communal movie hunting.
2. Hollywood Video
Image from Wikipedia
Often considered Blockbuster’s biggest rival, Hollywood Video had a slightly edgier vibe and a deeper catalog for cult classics and horror. The store’s dim lighting and faux red carpet gave it a strangely theatrical feel. You didn’t just rent movies there — you discovered them.
3. Movie Gallery
Image from Wikipedia
Smaller towns swore by Movie Gallery, especially in the American South and Midwest. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt personal — some locations even remembered your name and preferences. Their bargain bins were a treasure hunt of forgotten titles and direct-to-video oddities.
4. Family Video
Image from Wikipedia
Long after other chains vanished, Family Video held on like the last bastion of physical rentals. They even expanded while others collapsed, often pairing up with pizza chains like Marco’s for a nostalgic one-stop night in. It felt like the 2000s refused to leave inside those four walls.
5. Suncoast Motion Picture Company
Image from Wikipedia
Not just a rental store, Suncoast specialized in selling movies and TV series, with shelves of collector’s editions, posters, and memorabilia. It was the go-to for serious collectors and anime fans in the late ‘90s. Walking in felt like entering a shrine for film lovers.
6. Tower Records Video
Image from Wikipedia
Known more for music, Tower Records’ video section was a gem for cinephiles hunting for foreign films and indie darlings. Staff recommendations were written with real passion and often led you to unexpected gold. It was where you found movies that never hit mainstream shelves.
7. West Coast Video
Image from Wikipedia
Before Blockbuster dominated, West Coast Video was a dependable neighborhood option, especially along the Eastern Seaboard. Their layout was simple, but the staff had strong opinions and great recs. For many, it was their first membership card.
8. Video Update
Image from Wikipedia
Another mid-size chain that quietly served America’s living rooms in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Video Update offered late returns and local flavor. They stocked tons of direct-to-video action films and had surprisingly robust kids’ sections. It was no-frills, but it got the job done.
9. Laser Storm Video
Jason Leung from Unsplash
A short-lived chain that catered to the LaserDisc crowd, Laser Storm was niche and ahead of its time. Walking in was like entering a tech dreamland, with discs the size of vinyl records. Only the nerdiest movie fans dared browse there — and they loved it.
10. RKO Video
Image from Wikipedia
Named after the old Hollywood studio, RKO Video leaned heavily into classic cinema and old black-and-white reels. It was one of the few stores where your grandma and your film student cousin could find common ground. It died quietly, but its commitment to heritage made it unforgettable.
11. TLA Video
Image from Wikipedia
With roots in Philadelphia, TLA Video carved out a cult following thanks to its arthouse selection and LGBTQ+ titles. It was where you went when you outgrew the mainstream and wanted something that challenged you. Staff picks always included weird, wonderful things you’d never heard of.
12. Erol’s Video Club
kevin laminto from Unsplash
Before the AOL boom, there was Erol’s—a chain that started as a computer rental company and blossomed into a beloved video store in the ‘80s. It had a clean, white-and-orange look and a suburban charm that kept people loyal. It’s one of the most quietly mourned lost chains in Virginia and nearby states.
13. Alpha Video
Image from Wikipedia
Mostly known as a distributor, Alpha Video had a brick-and-mortar phase that offered golden-age television, B-movies, and public domain oddities. It was a haven for those who adored the obscure and the grainy. Their devotion to forgotten media felt like an act of preservation.
14. Video 99
aboodi vesakaran from Unsplash
A mom-and-pop gem in countless towns, Video 99 didn’t need flashy branding to earn loyalty. It smelled like popcorn and old plastic, and its handwritten “Staff Picks” section was always worth browsing. You didn’t just rent movies — you caught up with neighbors there.