The Video Strip in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood is the last of its kind in the metro area: a classic video and game rental store, now celebrating 30 years in business.
Owner Joe Trutin said that diversification of his business and an interest in original release content has kept his video store at 3307 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, open and providing rentals to neighbors and those who travel to the store for specialty videos and services.
"The majority of our store is not available on an app," Trutin said. "Our videos are uncut, unedited full versions that are not watered down like many inferior streaming options."
Content Censorship
This includes both censorship that cuts out parts of movies, as well as removal of entire episodes of popular TV shows. None of the extra features like director commentary are available on streaming, either, Trutin said.
Free VHS tapes are one of the benefits that members of The Video Strip can enjoy."We are one of the best options for customers because of our selection," he said. "We can find them something they're looking for that's not just ... some crazy algorithm that gives them the exact same thing they've already watched."
True 4K Picture
Technology has been at the forefront of The Video Strip's services, Trutin said, including as one of the first video stores in Chicago to carry DVDs. Now, the focus is on 4K discs.
"People are just starting to discover 4K ... and what their big screen TVs can do when watching a true 4K picture," Trutin said. Streaming Internet services degrade picture quality with compression and do not deliver native 4K video.
Disc Resurfacing
"So many have become upset after paying for 4K content online and finding out they're not getting 4K content," Trutin said.
Other sources of revenue for The Video Strip have included merchandise sales, package drop-off and delivery, and resurfacing that can rescue nearly any scratched disc, Trutin said.
Five Foreign Sections
The store offers a selection of over 25,000 titles, he said. "The biggest surprise usually comes when people find out we have five different foreign sections curated in our own shop. Finding international movies they've never heard of has been quite intriguing to some people."
To salute its 30th anniversary, The Video Strip presents specials through October, including daily deals, a collectors blowout sale and a celebration of International Video Store Day on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Store That Feels Personal
"When I opened The Video Strip, I wanted more than just a place to rent movies," Trutin said. "I wanted a video store that felt personal, where film lovers could find hidden gems as well as the latest releases."
"There’s something special about browsing shelves, seeing physical cases, talking with staff who know what you like,” he said. The store plans to continue enhancing its collection, adding hard-to-find titles and maintaining its human touch for recommendations.
"Offering personal recommendation and knowing your customer gives us a completely different advantage," Trutin said. "We want to stay that kind of place."
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