One of the Last Rental Stores Standing

In an era of streaming, Willow Video keeps physical media alive. The store's own website says it is one of North America's last remaining rental stores, and with more than 1,300 Google reviews and a 4.7-star rating, it has clearly built a loyal following. One reviewer called it "a physical media collector's paradise" with new and old video games, records, rare Blu-rays, DVDs, and even Pokemon cards.

A longtime customer described it as a "mom and pop store" they have visited since they were a kid, and said it is "one of the only places that still does weekly rentals for movies and games."

Movies, Games, and Records

The numbers are impressive. The store says it stocks over 30,000 movies across formats from DVD and Blu-ray to 4K, VHS, and laser disc, and thousands of vinyl records and music CDs. It also claims one of the largest selections of retro video games in Canada.

Rentals are inexpensive. According to the website, new-release DVDs and Blu-rays rent for $3.99 per night, and Nintendo Switch and PS5 games rent for $9.99 per week. Reviewers say the prices are reasonable overall because most of the inventory is previously owned: one shopper picked up a PS1 Slim for $69.99 and a PS2 memory card for $9.99.

Retro Gaming Headquarters

Retro gamers get a lot of love here. One shopper had been looking for the NES game Rampage and said the staff helped find it in very good condition at a fair price. Another picked up Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2, a favourite from childhood, and said staff know plenty about video games. A third wrote that the store has a massive video game selection covering all kinds of consoles, including retro ones, and that the DVD and vinyl selection is pretty massive too.

The store buys used games and consoles too, with a particular interest in N64, SNES, NES, GameBoy, Nintendo DS, GameCube, Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, and Saturn. It also buys mint-condition Blu-rays and select DVDs and VHS, along with vinyl records that have no scratches. Call first to confirm what it is taking.

The Staff, and the Dogs

Customers keep mentioning the people. A reviewer who brings their mom to Langley from Edmonton said the lovely owner goes looking for titles they are after, and another reviewer said the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. One visitor even mentioned the cute elderly dogs behind the counter, which they counted as a plus. The store also offers cell phone repair, a handy extra if you are in the neighbourhood.

Visit

Willow Video is on Willowbrook Drive and open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The phone number is (604) 530-5324. Whether you collect games, records, or movies, or just miss the experience of browsing a shelf and taking something home for the weekend, plan to spend some time browsing.