Video rental stores are making a comeback in Minneapolis
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Twin Cities movie buffs nostalgic for the days of Blockbuster will soon have somewhere to rewind.
The big picture: After three years of pop-ups at local markets and theaters, nonprofit Saturn Video will open the metro's only video rental storefront next month in Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood.
Why it matters: As streaming prices rise, digital licenses lapse and online archives disappear, many cinephiles and casual movie fans are returning to physical media for guaranteed access to both new and beloved films.
State of play: The metro hasn't had a permanent video rental store since 2023, when Video Universe in Robbinsdale shut its doors in part due to a lack of new physical media.
- Pop-up and member-supported operations like Sloppy Discs and Ant Hill Video have cropped up in its place, but Saturn Video will be the first to open a physical storefront.
What she's saying: "A lot of media is already gone from the Internet, and I think people are waking up to the fact that streaming is amorphous — the catalogue is always changing, and even if you buy a movie, they can take it away from you," owner Sierra Parham told Axios.
Zoom in: Saturn Video will stock hard-to-find DVDs, Blu-Rays and VHS tapes, with a particular focus on features by women, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC filmmakers. Mainstream studio films will also be available.
- The shop currently has over 600 titles — including some rare copies purchased from Video Universe — and Parham aims to have over 1,000 by opening day.
How it works: Members will pay $10 a month to check out one video at a time, with unlimited swaps. Individual rentals will be available for a few dollars, Parham said.
- Hours are still being determined, but Parham hopes to stay open late for movie screenings and film discussions.
What's next: Saturn Video likely won't be the only operation in town for long. Last month, fellow nonprofit pop-up The Video Store MPLS raised over $33,000 to open its own volunteer-run shop in Minneapolis, though it hasn't secured a location yet.
- But Parham isn't worried about competition — "there's such a big demand for this," she said.