Basement time machines revive VHS era for nostalgic Gen Xers

There's a VHS renaissance bubbling up, with Gen Xers, Gen Zers, and millennials re-embracing the medium that went extinct in 2005 following the VHS release of "A History of Violence." Fueled by nostalgia and a craving for something tangible, this VHS renaissance has video tape buffs scouring sites like eBay and local thrift stores, searching for rare tapes and still-working VCRs before sharing their "hauls" on social media.

At the forefront of this movement are a pair of VHS aficionados who have transformed their basements into private, retro video stores – complete with thousands of tapes, neon lights, and promotional cardboard cutouts. Anthony Sant'Anselmo, a 47-year-old screenwriter from the Atlanta area, spent a significant sum turning his basement into Mondo Video, a meticulous homage to the video stores of his childhood, amassing over 20,000 VHS tapes along the way.

"Video stores were cinematic libraries of yesteryear," Sant'Anselmo told The New York Post, sharing how he's even gotten his three young kids involved in the fun of this basement video rental shop. "No two looked alike, and I'd lose myself for hours, searching for a movie that didn't exist. You had to have lived it or you won't be into what I've done."

Inspired by Sant'Anselmo's VHS renaissance efforts, Aaron Gullett, a 42-year-old lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, repurposed his own basement after watching video tours of Mondo Video. Spending a few thousand dollars, Gullett sourced authentic racks and signage from shuttered video shops, ultimately creating his own VHS collecting mecca housing over 2,000 tapes and custom membership cards.

For both men, their basement video stores offer a nostalgic escape to the past when browsing the local video store was a beloved pastime. "I go down there, I turn all the lights on, and the nostalgia comes right back," Gullett says, adding he plans to install an "Adults Only" section soon to fully recreate the experience.

According to Matt Desiderio of the NYC VHS Collective, the appeal of VHS tapes ties into a desire for physical media and the "warm, glowing feeling" of watching movies this way versus modern streaming. As the VHS renaissance grows, collectors prize rare finds like underground films with limited VHS runs or factory-sealed tapes.

While big hits like "Titanic" are easier to find, Sant'Anselmo believes the VHS craze speaks to younger generations "craving something simple and something tangible" much like the vinyl resurgence. "VHS is very nostalgic for Generation X," he says, "and the younger generations are eating it up, too."