Family Video Opens in Blockbuster Space in La Grange Park

Family Video says its newest store in La Grange Park will offer cheaper rental prices than Blockbuster, which formerly occupied its space at 333 N. LaGrange Rd., and closed its doors in April.

“We’ll do a lot better,” predicted employee Mary Viktora said about the new video store that opened in mid-August. “We keep our store nice and organized. Our prices are a lot more reasonable.”

Prices range from free in certain categories up to $2.80 for new releases and $6 for certain video games.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled at 10 a.m. today, Aug. 26, for Family Video and then for two other businesses—D’Dami Salon and Spa, and Village Potters—that previously opened in the Village Market shopping center.

“Our main goal is to make sure everybody leaves here happy,”  Viktora said. If someone cannot find a video or game they are looking to rent, store employees are more than happy to call another Family Video to find it, she said. Nearby stores are in Westchester and two locations in Downers Grove, where Viktora previously worked.

That personal service, of finding particular videos and games and offering recommendations, is something that Redbox and Netflix cannot compete with, said Viktora. Plus, customers do not have to stand outside in a line to rent videos from Redbox machines, she said.

Family Video started renting videos in 1978 and has 735 stores, including 21 in the Chicago area, and in 19 states, according to its website, www.familyvideo.com. 

No credit card is needed to rent videos and games, Viktora said. Just show  a driver’s license and provide two telephone numbers.

For the first 30 days the store is open, customers can sign up to pay half the regular price for rentals, she said. Customers can renew their participation by paying $9.95 every 30 days.

Free rental always is offered for rental of educational, sports and fitness DVDs and films for younger children.  

Films for older children and the family rent for $1 over five nights.

Other categories are “nearly new” movies that have been out for a while; television series; prequels,  sequels and remakes to movies in current release or coming soon; classics; and standup comedy

And the “favorites” category includes movies such as “Grease” and “The Terminator.”  About these particular rentals, she said, “If you don’t like it, we’ll exchange it for something else. We’re pretty sure you’ll like everything in this section.”

Certain videos are 2-for-one rentals. “We want to make sure people save as much as possible,” Viktora said.

BluRay movies also are for rent.

Some videos are for sale, but since the store is new, it probably will be a month or two before it starts selling movies currently on the rental shelves. Used videos are guaranteed for 30 days.

Games can be rented for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and 3 and Wii, with specials for another free game or movie rental.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to midnight every day of the year.