Tom Video

Writing a tragic farewell review for this neighborhood icon. Tom Video has been around as long as I can remember, and it has been my go-​to place for mainstream and totally weird movies alike. Love their huge selection of random martial arts flicks, documentaries, and horror. Also love that they sell tv seasons for cheap. Speaking of cheap, $ 1 for a rental? How is that even possible? Apparently not since they are closing this week. So so sad. I will miss Tom Video so much. Thank you for years of B-​list movie awesomeness.

I loved this place one of the last of a dieing breed the video store the person working gave us the wrong movie we didn’t check them never had a problem we ate watch one went to put on the second one wrong movie to late to call went to return told the person it gave me the wrong movie an he tryed to charge me when it was it’s fault I guess it was cause I’m Latino an we must be (thives rapist an liars) then he blames it on me should of check them open ur eyes at the numbers written an not ur delivery that just got there

This place is so disorganized. The man working the night my family walked in was extremely rude. The previous night my brother brought a movie and the wrong disc was given to him, after realizing that the wrong disc was given he called but they were closed. The next day went back in (with me) and the guy was so stupid and so rude. Obviously we want lying because the numbers on the disc didn’t mach any of the previous movies they rented. DO YOUR JOBS AND PAY ATTENTION WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKES.
THEY HAVE A PORN ROOM AND A CREEPY GUY WORKING THERE I WARN YOU DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT. HE GAVE ME CHILLS DEFINITELY DON’T GO IN HERE ALONE OR WITHOUT your husbands Ladies!
THEY ARE ALSO RACIST.

It’s great to have other options aside from Netflix and the limited selection of redbox. They have a good selection of newer and older movies. Friendly staff.

Awesome awesome awesome. This place has so many horror films it’s incredible. And the movies run $ 1 for 3 night for old movies. They are open pretty late and have a drop box for returns when they are closed. The girls that work there are so friendly and will try to find any movie that you are looking for.

Got Netflix? Who cares! Tom’s still has something to offer. Tom’s has an impressive selection, dirt cheap prices, and friendly staff. There’s also the nostalgia factor, which can’t be overstated.
If you’re like me, you’ll leave Tom’s with the urge to tip over one of this impersonal movie robots; I think they’re called redbox. (I have never tipped over a redbox, just for the record.)

Been using Tom Video since the early 90s when I lived just around the corner.
Back then they were one of a few neighborhood places handling VHS tapes with a few newfangled DVDs, trying to hold out against Blockbuster stores all over the city. Most other local video stores went under. Eventually Blockbuster went under. Now its online streaming and Redbox stores … and Tom Video.
Besides being a survivor, Tom Video has improved over the years. Titles are better sorted by genre, and largely in alphabetical order. The place is tidier, better kept up. There’s an after-​hours drop box, installed years ago at the request of patrons. Best of all the staff are nicer, smarter and more helpful than before. They’re great for title look-​ups and have good alternative recommendations when something isn’t available.
I’d give them 5 stars except that slightly older but still modern movies, ones prior to 2000 — even big award-​winning ones — are being sold off to make room for newer, unimportant ones. I think this is a mistake — their patrons are a little older or at least more into movies than the average Netflix person, and would justify keeping more «classic» titles.
Bottom line here: we’re lucky to have this tough old throwback as a quality alternative to the diminishing choices of internet based, download-​only services. The physical Blu-​ray or DVD disks include extras like commentary, deleted scenes, Making Of documentaries and so much more … which for anyone who really loves movies are more than worth the «inconvenience» of using a bricks and mortar store.
I only Tom Video cab survive the inevitable hike in property values once the snooty spawn of the French School and their parents take over the neighborhood. If history is any indication, it shall.

Tom Video is wonderful. The ladies who work there are also really nice, and give great suggestions whenever we ask for opinions on movies. The rentals are cheap and they always have something that I want.
One time our movie was scratched, so they let us return it, refunded us our money and rent a free one. Great customer service!

I love Tom Video. I’ve been a customer for more than 10 years and I’m happy that they’ve managed to stay in business despite Blockbuster’s failed attempt to takeover the video rental world. They have all the new releases and you can get tons of old movies too. Older releases rent $ 1 for five nights, new releases are $ 3 for one night. Staff could use some cheering up but otherwise Tom Video is a great place.

I went to Tom Video from a friend’s recommendation. Though the selection was nice, the displays are pretty disorganized. This normally wouldn’t stop me from going back. However, both times I have gone to rent a movie the staff (same guy both times) was EXTREMELY rude. Even though I live just around the corner, I won’t be gong back. Netflix can have my money!

What can I say? I love this little place — so much better than Blockbuster! We rented 2 movies at Blockbuster recently, two old movies, mind you, and it was $ 7.50 for 3 day rental! At Tom Video, they have hundreds of movies, all 5 day rentals, for just $ 1. Newer titles, of which they have a nice selection, are $ 3, but still not as expensive as big ol’ Blockbuster.
I like the fact Tom Video is small — it’s quaint and old timey. The employees are helpful, funny, and just nice guys, in general. They actually know me when I walk in, too, unlike chain movie stores.
And yes, I do know what NetFlix is. I had it for several years and then just got tired of the whole «mailing-​in-​and-​waiting-​for-​the-​next-​one», when Tom Video is just down the block from me, in Ravenswood.
As a last note, they have some pretty cool low-​budge movies, mixed in with the classics that were actually in theaters. The low-​budget ones, like «Grizzly Rage» or «Dark Fields» are always good for couple laughs! :)

yay! i’m a fan.
this is place is just across the street from me. that alone gives it one star.
their selection is super wide!-one more star.
they have a big ol’ room full of porn movies-​haahaa yes its creepy but i think it’s pretty neat and old time-​y. since nowadays people just get their perv fix from the nets.
new-​ish movies are $ 3 and old-​ish movies are $ 1!!! those prices are too good to pass up. one more star!
and last time i was there i saw some cuties! SO ONE MORE STAR!

Tom Video is a hidden gem in North Center/​Ravenswood neighborhood to cure some boredom. This a great place to stop by when the Netflix queue is backed up with «Very long wait» (doesn’t that piss you off?).
New release section is what I frequent most often. They have a good selection, which is in disarray, but for 3 bucks a pop it’s not bad. I have been here a handful of times and they have yet to be out of a DVD I wanted.
Movies are for sale as well for 5 bucks. You can’t really beat that if you’re looking to stock up on your DVD collection. A great assortment of titles you won’t find at Blockbuster. A truly niche type of video place that serves all types… including adults.
Yes the adult section is very extensive. And yes I have browsed this 18 and up abyss and found some of the titles to be very amusing. So don’t be a prude and be freaked out by the porn section and lighten up. Or rent that Disney DVD you were looking for… I don’t care.
So if you live near North Center or Ravenswood I would highly suggest you check out Tom Video next time you have a hankering for a good flick.

Great prices for rentals, and the staff here is really nice and helpful. Another plus is that their new releases are on the shelf before the actual release date. Never had a bad experience here with rude staff like some people have said and the place is far from being a mess. Its a video rental store, and there is nothing bad about it. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a great deal and good selection.
Also, yes it has a porn room. And honestly who cares? Don’t be so uptight.

Tom Video is a mess and the people (staff and clientele) all seem like they recently emerged from a cave, but the place is $ 1 to rent, $ 1 to buy (VHS tapes you haven’t seen in years that you thought only you knew of), open until 11 and fairly low-​key. I mean, come in here drunk, hungover, stinky, in your pjs, whatever. It may be a neighborhood place, but no one bothers anyone, there are no «water cooler’ pleasantries and no one is there to be seen.
You could stick around all night if you like trying to find something you want in the racks, but since you probably came in there for the convenience of «just anything» to cure your boredom, I’m certain you’ll be happy with Tom Video whether you find the latest movie actually in stock (and where it should be) or if you end up with some B-​movie from the 90s. Of course, that «something» will probably be scratched so badly you won’t be able to watch it all the way through, but the stoner employee will crack you up with his response when you tell him this upon your return: «Whoa, dude. Yeah, look at that, it’s alllll scrrrrratched uuuuup. Bummer!»
Be warned: There is a porn room if that sort of thing interests or offends you. I honestly think that if you’re chill enough to live up here all isolated and artsy and stuff, you’re more entertained by that room (or the thought of that room) than most of the city… But you should know. In case you don’t wish to make eye contact with the porn-​room dwellers … or in case your whole night just picked up because of them:).
We need Tom Video. We live in Ravenswood, folks. It’s all we’ve got, and it fits the Ravenswood lifestyle if you know what I mean.

An organizational OCD’s worst nightmare! I walked in here to rent a video (oh yes, they have VHSs and DVDs, even though it wouldn’t seem like it from the outside) since it was a few blocks from my place. My eyes just began to cross walking up the first aisle. Some of the movies were placed on the racks like a Blockbuster/​Hollywood Video, but the majority were with the binding facing you. I don’t know about you but I have to see the front of a DVD case to determine what I want to watch. Isn’t that why they spent money on designing? Reading each and every ½-​inch DVD case binding made me go crazy. I left here after the second aisle. Everything seemed out of order. I’m all about supporting local family businesses, but some things just should change. Perhaps THIS is why I am ranting in run-​on sentences and unable to correct/​read over my review. And yes they are cheap – I’ll give them that!

It’s like a time warp when you walk into Tom Video (yes, it’s «Tom» rather than «Tom’s» ;). I remember when the family first bought a VCR and – goodness! – rented videos from the local video store! It used to be such a treat. Stepping into Tom Video is a rare treat, let me tell you.
My reasons why:
1. It’s two blocks from my apartment and available every night until 11 p.m. Convenience is sometimes all it takes. When I’m waiting on my next Netflix selection and am hard up for a movie, Tom is there.
2. They now have a «New Releases» section. It’s not at all alphabetized, but at least it’s a start to some store organization (really, it’s a mess in there).
3. It’s only $ 3.00 per night for newer movies (of which they do carry quite a lot) and $ 1 for five nights for older movies! That certainly beats mean ol’ corporate Blockbuster.
4. They’ve got quite the slasher/​horror film selection (of which, I must admit, I’m a fan).
5. They still have videos for rent and a ton for sale. If I were in the market for cheap videos, Tom would be the first place I’d visit.
6. It manages to thrive despite online rentals and Blockbuster. So what if it’s a little rundown?
7. It’s called Tom Video! That’s just cool.
A few disadvantages:
–They do have a porn room. Every so often you see a creepy fellow emerge from that room and he looks at you in, well, a creepy way. I avoid eye contact.
–The staff (two guys, I believe) are mostly friendly, though not overtly. And the one is not so great on recommendations (he stared at me blankly when I asked for some help in deciding).
–Like I said, it’s a bit of a disorganized mess. You’ve got to take some time to browse to find something you’re looking for.

My neighbor was outraged and loudly objecting that just around the corner from he lives «is a ‘sleezy porn rental place’ that doesn’t even have Disney movies.» Creepy guy. Creepier actual quote.
Naturally, I had to visit:
It’s AMAZING: All you hipster lemmings better keep away from this un-​alphabetized, insanely disorganized z-​movie treasure trove!!! Mystery Science Theatre 3000– I am taking you on–
‘Cause All VHS is on sale for $ 2.00!
5-​day DVD video rentals for $ 1.00!
I couldn’t hold myself back… I am now the proud owner of ‘The Omen I, II. III an IV (yes, the Omen part 4 is as bad as you can possibly imagine)’, ‘Scanners’ and ‘Scanners II’ plus the ‘Rambo animated family home entertainment presents’ (and it’s fully animated– even worse than you can imagine; Yeah– my sister has forbidden it to be in the presence of my impressionable niece) but one of the characters is named KAT– how can it be wrong when it feels so right?
My boyfriend was after «Never Too Young to Die» an unspeakbly mediocre film with a very young John Stamos, Vanity AND Gene Simmons in gold bustier drag. Bonus: Gene Simmons in drag looks like… my mother. Poor boy had nightmare for weeks. Thus, the movie is still for sale– any takers?
P. S. Whoever out there aquired ‘Mary Lou: Prom Night II’ from the horror section– you now know where to send the ransom note. Yeah, i know you read this, and i’m coming after you like that bad ‘Psycho’ remake…

This would be a super cute, convenient little video store. Except for that they are the most unorganized place I’ve ever seen and the people are rude. Whenever I go in there, I get a headache trying to find a movie. There is absolutely no order to that place. It’s super annoying.