Introduction
Hey there! Do you ever feel nostalgic for the old days of visiting your local video rental store on a Friday night to pick out a few movies? I sure do! Streaming is great, but there was something special about browsing those video store aisles that can‘t be replicated.
In this guide, we‘ll take a trip down memory lane and explore some of the top video rental chains, regional stores, and indie shops that existed before online streaming took over the world. Get ready for a healthy dose of nostalgia!
The Rise and Fall of Video Rental Stores
It all started in the late 1970s when VCRs first became widely available for home use. Local video stores started popping up in the early 1980s to meet the demand for movie rentals. Major chains like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video emerged in the mid-1980s and accelerated the trend rapidly.
By the peak in the late 1990s, there were over 20,000 video rental stores in the United States! Just to give you an idea of how big the industry had become, statistics show that:
- In 1996, Blockbuster operated over 5,000 stores and was opening a new one nearly every 24 hours.
- During peak years, the average video rental store brought in $600,000 in annual revenue.
- 61% of Americans visited a video rental store at least once a month in 2001.
However, by the mid-2000s, DVD sales and online rental services like Netflix dealt a fatal blow. Stores struggled to compete and eventually went bankrupt one-by-one until only a few remained today, leaving cherished memories of the golden era.
Major Video Rental Chains
Let‘s take a closer look at some of the major chains that competed with the behemoth Blockbuster:
Hollywood Video
Hollywood Video was founded in 1988 in Wilsonville, Oregon and rapidly expanded to over 1,500 locations at its peak. The chain was known for its bright, colorful interiors for a more family-friendly environment compared to Blockbuster. Hollywood Video offered similar services with new releases, games, loyalty programs and eventually online rentals.
Some fun facts about Hollywood Video:
- Had over 3,000 stores globally including in Mexico, Canada and the UK.
- Unique choices included Spanish-language films and anime videos.
- The iconic logo was modeled after the Hollywood sign.
Despite innovations like online rentals, financial woes led Hollywood Video to file bankruptcy and begin closing all stores in 2010.
Movie Gallery
Growing up in the South, Movie Gallery was my personal neighborhood rental store for years. Founded in Dothan, Alabama in 1985, the company rapidly expanded across the Southern U.S. and Midwest, eventually acquiring Hollywood Video. At its peak, Movie Gallery operated over 4,500 stores under brands like Game Crazy and MovieBeam.
Fun Movie Gallery facts:
- Had 64 stores by the end of its first year in business.
- Unique rental options included video games and adult films.
- Acquired Hollywood Video in 2005 but went bankrupt in 2010.
Fierce competition from Netflix and Redbox doomed Movie Gallery, forcing them to close the remaining stores in 2010.
Family Video
Based in Illinois, Family Video stood out by focusing on smaller rural towns ignored by bigger chains. The company grew steadily to over 800 locations by successfully diversifying its offerings.
Some examples include:
- Added tanning services starting in 1988.
- Expanded into real estate in strip mall locations.
- Sold CBD products and cellphones in the 2000s.
Family Video valiantly outlasted most chains before shifting focus to real estate and closing the final stores in 2021.
Regional Video Store Chains
In addition to the major national players, there were some successful regional video chains in certain cities or states:
Easy Video
With simple no-nonsense branding, Easy Video operated over 600 stores in the Midwest before being bought out in 1987.
Americast
Focused on the Florida and Southeast markets with over 300 stores starting in 1984 before going bankrupt in 2000.
West Coast Video
A California chain known for foreign, indie and cult film choices beyond mainstream Hollywood fare. Grew to 250 stores before selling to Hollywood Video in 1998.
Palmer Video
Popular Michigan and Ohio-based chain that operated 150 stores before closing in 1999.
Local Independent Video Stores
And who could forget the quirky local indie video stores? These were often started by film enthusiasts who curated unique selections and offered personalized service that you just couldn‘t find at the big chains.
The video clerks at these classic stores were like movie gurus who knew their inventory inside out. You could always rely on their spot-on recommendations if you were unsure what to rent. It was often heartbreaking for patrons when their beloved local shop closed down.
Some examples of the funky names you‘d see on indie video stores:
- Video to Go
- Bob‘s Video
- Presto Video
- Video Hits
- Groovy Movies
The Final Rewind
Well, that wraps up our tour down memory lane! I hope you enjoyed this nostalgic look back at the classic video rental chains and indie stores that populated malls, plazas and neighborhoods before online streaming. It‘s amazing how much the home entertainment industry has evolved in just a few decades.
Though services like Netflix are incredibly convenient, I do sometimes miss the human touch and discovery involved with browsing the shelves at my local video store. But the memories we made will always remain! Let me know if you have any favorite video store stories to share.
