An old-school video store is opening in Williamsburg next week

Lest you think streaming to be the undisputed winner when it comes to at-home TV and movie habits, think again: Night Owl Video is a new shop in Williamsburg that takes us back to a time when Blockbuster ruled the screens in our living rooms. In an effort to prove that physical media is far from dead, the new store is set to open at 288 Grand Street on April 11. It will offer patrons 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, LaserDiscs, poster art, a collection of film memorabilia and a range of other merchandise that would make for great gifts and unique home decor pieces.

Co-founded by Aaron Hamel and Jess Mills, Night Owl Video aims to create a “gathering place for film fanatics, celluloid crackpots, gore hounds, cinephiles, Letterboxd patrons, and everyone in between to gather and worship at the altar of the mighty motion picture,” according to an official press release.

“Film fans are sick of paying for fractured streaming services and losing access to their favorite movies,” said Hamel in a statement. “We’re in another golden age of killer home media releases from independent distributors, and it’s driving a renewed passion for physical media. Night Owl Video will be the East Coast haven for cinephiles who have never stopped supporting independent film.”

The destination will go beyond selling physical films (pricing starts at $5), though. The shop is partnering with local and international distributors and filmmakers to make its mark at community film events. Expect in-store pop-ups, signings and various other exciting activations. The owners also hope to offer rental services in the near future.

Given New Yorkers’ propensity for all things nostalgic, there’s no better place than the Big Apple to launch this venture.

But Night Owl Video isn’t just about the past: the owners have developed an online component for the business, allowing users to shop for the various products online once their e-commerce platform launches closer to the summer. It’s the perfect marriage of the past and present, one that we're sure will resonate with New Yorkers at large.