Video Store Chain To Close All Stores, Including Seven in Iowa

After more than four decades in business, Family Video is closing all its remaining stores across the U.S.

The President of Family Video, Keith Hoogland, said he's "extremely thankful" to all of the company's employees and customers over the years but the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in "the end of an era." According to We Are Iowa, Family Video says that the number of people visiting their stores has dropped drastically since the pandemic began in early 2020.

Family Video's closure of all stores will impact approximately 700 locations. According to the company's website, the chain still has more than 700 stores open. There are seven locations in Iowa, including one in Marion, one in Waterloo, and two in the Quad Cities. The other Iowa locations are in Keokuk, Mason City, and West Des Moines. We Are Iowa says Family Video was still operating more than 20 stores in Wisconsin.

The closing of Family Video stores, located mostly in the Midwest and eastern part of the United States, comes seven years after Blockbuster Video stores closed across the nation. There is just one location left, in Bend, Oregon. Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery stores closed in the summer of 2010.