Yidio Killed the Video Store

Video rental shops - aren’t we lucky that we got to experience them before they, in a click of an Amazon Prime button, disappeared overnight.

For me, going to the video store was like going clothes shopping with mum. You’re absolutely coming home with something, but what that something was, was anyone’s guess. Was it gonna be an 80s horror movie with those fantastical tacky special effects? Will it be a 90s chick flick featuring the coolest pink platforms a teenage girl could only ever dream of owning?

Is the guy on the counter gonna let a 14-year-old walk out with a VHS copy of Child’s Play?... Oh, he is - I bloody love this shop! Dad didn’t need to come in with us soon after that; the guy was like "yeah, there’s the horror section, fill your boots", and we did!

I’d spend about 45 minutes trolling the horror section.

Dolly Dearest, Puppet Master, IT!

It was called Starburst, this local video shop of mine. None of this Blockbuster nonsense. A proper independent gaff with a young Tarantino standing behind the counter.

I feel so lucky to have had this shop just minutes from our family house. Clicking away on Netflix or YouTube doesn’t come anywhere close to the experience. I’m gutted for our grandchildren and niece, who will never share in that same experience.

Perhaps I’ll recreate the buzz for them at home one day.

When I was a kid, I numbered all our VHS videos at home. Took bloody ages - we had 2 rooms filled with 'em. Not long after that, I decided to make a video menu. Every now and then, on a Sunday afternoon, I'd eagerly hand the menu out to the family and let them choose what film to watch. Number 79 this week.....ooooh, I excitedly ran to the lounge. I knew where this one was! Like a proud shopkeeper, I'd stand on tiptoe, yank Chitty Chitty Bang Bang away from the top shelf and shove it enthusiastically into the player.

I wasn’t so organised as to categorise the films - that would’ve been pretty cool - although the categories would mainly have consisted of Disney, Musicals or German soaps!

With over 300 VHS videos sitting proudly upon several shelves at my now house, p’raps I’ll do the same for the little ones. Or anyone else that wants to pop over and borrow a film from Nancy’s VHS store. 1-week rental, no late fees and next to nothing prices! Get in touch today! 📼😆