Retro NYC video store marks booming first year in business – thanks to growing Gen-Z demand for VHS, DVDs

April 11, 2026 - 01:19

In an era dominated by streaming giants, a Brooklyn video store is not just surviving but thriving. Night Owl Video, New York City's last remaining dedicated rental shop, is celebrating a booming first anniversary, powered by a surprising surge in demand from younger customers.

The store's success defies modern digital trends, with owner Brian Morrison reporting strong interest in both VHS tapes and DVDs. He notes that Generation Z customers, many of whom grew up long after the format's heyday, are particularly drawn to the tangible experience of physical media. For them, browsing shelves, holding a cassette, and the ritual of watching a movie from a tape offers a novel and authentic form of entertainment disconnected from algorithms.

The shop has become a cultural hub, hosting movie nights and fostering a community of film enthusiasts. Its carefully curated collection, featuring everything from cult classics to obscure horror, provides a discovery experience that scrolling through endless digital menus cannot match. This first-year success story highlights a growing cultural shift, where a new generation is seeking a more intentional and tactile connection to cinema, proving that for some, the past offers a richer viewing experience.