Last of Its Kind: McKinley Park's Video Strip Celebrates 30 Years as Chicago's Final Video Store

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Mckinley Park · October 20, 2025

The Video Strip, located at 3307 S. Archer Ave in McKinley Park, is celebrating a remarkable milestone this month as the last video rental store in the Chicago metro area reaches its 30th anniversary. Owner Joe Trutin, who opened the store in 1995, has maintained a thriving business by offering what streaming services can't match.

"The majority of our store is not available on any app," Trutin explains, noting that his collection offers uncut, unedited versions of films and TV shows that are often watered down or entirely missing from streaming platforms. The store has embraced technological changes over the decades, from being one of Chicago's first video stores to carry DVDs to now specializing in 4K discs that deliver superior picture quality compared to compressed streaming content.

To celebrate this milestone, The Video Strip is offering special promotions throughout October, including daily deals and a collectors blowout sale. The celebration culminates on Saturday, October 18, which is International Video Store Day. "I wanted more than just a place to rent movies," Trutin says. "I wanted a video store that felt personal, where film lovers could find hidden gems." The store plans to continue enhancing its impressive 25,000-title collection while maintaining the personal touch that keeps customers coming back.

Sources:
1. https://mckinleypark.news/news/7442-video-store-celebrates-30-years-of-movie-tv-and-game-rentals