Video rental store opens in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS, KYMA) - A video rental store in Philadelphia is open for business in a world where streaming has become popular.

Take one step inside the little movie store in South Philadelphia, and the memories from people's childhood will instantly start flooding back.

"The coolest thing that happens is people walking through here and going, 'Oh I did miss this, this is kind of what I been missing. I've been scrolling for many years...I sort of miss strolling,'" said Dylan Wise, owner of the Little Movie Store.

It's not exactly a Friday night at Blockbuster, but the new video store, located at 10th and McKean Streets, is attempting to bring back what was once a tradition for many families.

"Walking through the aisles of a place. Feeling a physical movie. Holding it up showing it to a friend of yours," Wise explained.

Wise said he's complied thousands of DVDs and VHS tapes. Apart of the inventory includes Batman and Scooby-Doo, and movies you won't be able to find on any streaming platform.

"Things maybe people didn't know existed...Wu-Tang Clan put out a series of kung fu movies," Wise shared.

Wise said the store is offering annual memberships for $160 that allows people to rent the movies along with other perks.

Wise also said nearly 200 people have already signed up, and customers without the membership can only buy the movies and if needed VCRs and DVD players are available to rent, but he said the interest speaks to the growing demand for physical media.

"I think people miss the ability to walk through and not be directly targeted by an algorithm," Wise expressed.

Wise said movies on VHS and DVD may be a thing of the past, but he believed they still have a place in the future.

The Little Movie Store opened Saturday at noon Eastern, and Wise said the first 50 customers along with their purchases got a free bag of Rosie's Kettle Corn because what's a movie night without a snack.