ROCKINGHAM — A national video chain is closing all of its locations across the nation, including one in Richmond County.
Keith Hoogland, president of parent company Highland Ventures, announced Tuesday the decision to close all Family Video stores.
“The impact of Covid-19, not only in foot traffic but also in the lack of movie releases, pushed us to the end of an era,” Hoogland said in a statement.
The company, started by Hoogland’s father, had been in business for 42 years, starting with “a handful of 500 square foot video rental locations,” growing to around 800 nationwide.
Family Video started with Beta and evolved through the years with the industry to VHS, DVD and Blue Ray, he said.
Hoogland boasted that Family Video outlasted the larger chain stores Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery by a decade.
Forbes Magazine featured the chain in a 2017 story, following the opening of a store in Granite City, Illinois. The previous year Family Video brought in $400 million in revenue, according to the article.
According to the website there are locations in 17 states. The other five in North Carolina are in Winston-Salem, Forest City, Lexington, Hickory and Statesville.
In recent years, Family Video added CBD oil to its shelves alongside movies.
According to the website, the last day to rent is Wednesday, Jan. 6. The stores will close once all inventory is sold, but the website will remain active selling movies, CBD products and memorabilia.
“I am extremely thankful to our employees and customers that were instrumental in Family Video’s success,” Hoogland said. “Without you, we would not have been the last man standing in our industry.”
While the video stores are closing, Hoogland said the company would still continue to manage properties.
Another chain retailer, J.C. Penney, closed its Rockingham location in late 2020.
