Brooklyn Video Store Celebrates Booming First Year Thanks to Gen-Z Demand for Physical Media

Night Owl Video, the Big Apple's last remaining video store, is expanding after a blockbuster debut year driven by a surge in nostalgia for VHS and DVDs.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:28pm

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Night Owl Video, a retro video store in Brooklyn, New York, is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend after a hugely successful debut year. Co-owners Aaron Hamel and Jess Mills say the store has seen an overwhelming demand for physical media, especially from a growing cohort of Gen-Z customers who are drawn to the simplicity and tactile experience of VHS and DVDs. The 800-square-foot shop has already expanded its inventory and operating hours to keep up with the influx of movie lovers, and the owners are now considering moving to a larger space to accommodate the business's rapid growth.

Why it matters

The success of Night Owl Video highlights a resurgence of interest in physical media, particularly among younger generations who have grown up in the digital streaming era. This trend challenges the assumption that physical media is a dying format and suggests that there is still a strong demand for the tangible experience of owning and watching movies on VHS and DVD. The store's popularity also speaks to a broader cultural shift towards nostalgia and a desire for more analog, hands-on experiences in a increasingly digitized world.

The details

Since opening in April of last year, Night Owl Video has seen its inventory and operating hours expand significantly to meet growing customer demand. The store now stocks over 12,000 titles, which are sold for an average of $10 to $20 each. Many of the store's offerings are acquired directly from online and in-person sellers, but customers also regularly trade in their own VHS, laser disc, and Betamax tapes. The store's trade-in program has yielded both rare and sought-after titles, including a long-sought-after copy of the cult classic 'Napoleon Dynamite' on VHS. To keep up with the influx of customers, the store has hired a new employee to manage the shop while co-owner Aaron Hamel searches for more unique and obscure titles to add to the collection.

  • Night Owl Video opened in April 2025.
  • The store is celebrating its one-year anniversary this weekend (April 12-13, 2026).

The players

Night Owl Video

A retro video store located in Brooklyn, New York that specializes in selling physical media like VHS tapes and DVDs. It is the last remaining video store in New York City.

Aaron Hamel

The co-owner of Night Owl Video who is responsible for acquiring the store's extensive collection of over 12,000 titles, including rare and obscure films.

Jess Mills

The co-owner of Night Owl Video who oversees the day-to-day operations of the store and its growing customer base.

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What they’re saying

“We have heaps of regulars, and we have a lot of Gen-Z customers.”

— Jess Mills, Co-owner, Night Owl Video

“Right now, we're trying to even further optimize the space, put more stuff into it — but if things keep progressing the way that they are, there could be a bigger space in the future.”

— Aaron Hamel, Co-owner, Night Owl Video

“A younger generation — that certainly we've found here — has spent their entire lives in a digital world that's just gotten worse with time, so I think it definitely makes sense to see that demographic being drawn to physical media.”

— Aaron Hamel, Co-owner, Night Owl Video

What’s next

Night Owl Video is considering expanding to a larger space to accommodate the store's rapid growth and increasing customer demand for physical media.

The takeaway

The success of Night Owl Video demonstrates that there is still a strong appetite for physical media, especially among younger generations who have grown up in the digital streaming era. This trend challenges the assumption that physical formats like VHS and DVDs are obsolete, and suggests that there is a market for retro video stores that cater to consumers seeking a more tangible and nostalgic entertainment experience.