The Video Store Is Moving & Giving Away All Their VHS Tapes

A Levittown landmark is moving but not very far.

The Video Store has been a staple in the community for nearly 37 years.

For 31 of those years, The Video Store has been in its current building at 4354 New Falls Road in Bristol Township’s Levittown section. At the end of September, the store will make another move to the building on the other side of the parking lot.

“I just don’t want people to think that we aren’t here anymore,” said Alice Tardino, who owns the store with her husband, John.

Although the couple is exchanging storefronts and downsizing a little bit, all of the services the store provides like non-criminal fingerprints, notary services, passport photos and video transfers will be coming to the new location that is only steps away from the current storefront. The only thing not coming to the new store are the VHS tapes. The Tardino are hoping to give away every tape in the store’s inventory before the move.

Over recent years, the Tardinos have fielded offers to buy their building but have resisted. However, the couple is now ready to downsize after 30 years at their location. The biggest reason is The Video Store isn’t using all of the space they have, Tardino explained.

The current building will be split into three storefronts as The Video Store moves across the parking lot, Tardino said.

While the rental business is still viable with The Video Store getting new movies before other rental services like Redbox, the storefront has become more service based over the years.

“The Video Store has become more of a service business than a video business,” Tardino said.

The settlement for the sale of the current building is set for September 29. By October 1, every service will be totally transferred into the new building.

As The Video Store gets ready to move, Tardino took some time to reflect on the memories the current building holds. Customers will bring their kids in to see what classic video stores were like and the Tardino’s grandchildren visit and play at the store.

The store still has two chairs that were occupied by Alice’s aunt and mother-in-law, Terry Tardino and Margaret Fihelly. The two women would hang out in the store during normal business hours watching movies and visiting with the customers. Although they have passed on, their chairs remain in the store.

“It’s a little bittersweet,” Tardino said. “This is where the family grew up.”

Tardino said that she wants all of the VHS tapes to have a good home by the time the couple locks the door on the old building. Everyone is encouraged to stop by with a box to fill with free VHS tapes before the big move at the end of September.