The largest privately-owned video rental company has opened shop on Main Street in Newberry.

Family Video is the oldest video rental store in the country with 30 years behind its work.

The business started in Illinois in 1978 when owner Charlie Hoogland bought an appliance store that had numerous VHS tapes.

Today, Family Video has 580 stores in 18 states, opens an average of one new store every week and has more than 6,000 employees.

The store prides itself on exceptional customer service and low cost rentals.

Each customer coming into the Main Street store is offered a free tour.

Memberships are easy, requiring just a photo identification card and a phone number.

New members receive half off rentals for the first 30 days.

The store also offers free children’s, sports, fitness and educational rentals.

“It is just like checking out books at the library,” said store manager Jason Millman.

There are also $1 rentals and some new releases are priced at $2.59 for five days.

The store also has a section where you are guaranteed to like the movie, or you may select another rental from the section for free.

Also the video store has a game room and rents games and gaming systems.

For those planning a family night in, the store has a deal where customers can purchase two rentals, a bucket of popcorn and get their choice of ice cream, soda or candy for $7.95.

Family Video, however, does not rent for itself when it moves into a community. The company has a business philosophy of investing in the community, and purchases the land it builds on and the store it builds.

The store at 1930 Main Street, the corner of Glenn and Main streets, is open from 10 a.m. to midnight 365 days a year. The phone number is 276-8997.

The managers are also still hiring. The company also owns Perfect Tan and Stay Fit 24.