Bill Gray shutting down Video Stop after 38 years
By Randy Rhea
It might be hard to believe in 2026 a video retail store still running and functioning after the digital age, but right here in Somerville, TN, Video Stop, located at 17775 Highway 64, has been running and running successfully, all the while setting the world record for the most consecutive days that a retail store has remained open, as of early 2026 at over 14,000 days consecutively.
When Bill Gray bought Video Stop in 1988, Video Stores were prevelant in Somerville and Fayette County in general, with stores in Moscow, video rentals in Super D, the place now known as Somerville Food & Fuel and in Oakland. In the mid-90’s, there were three Video Stores running in Somerville with Video Stop, Somerville Video Store run by Butch and Carolyn Rhea and Video To Go run by Mary Beth Pulliam. Over time, the video stores around Fayette County shut down. Somerville Video Store in particular closed down in 2002 at the peak of the DVD boom. Movie Gallery opening up in Oakland, really did a number on the smaller video stores left in Fayette County, except for one. With the rise of DVD’s, Movie Gallery opening in Oakland and the digital age with on demand streaming services, Video Stop has remained, still going through all of it.
How could he survive through all these years with the store still running in what is not necessarily a profitable industry? Well creativity and learning how to use money where it needs to be used. Another way is offering deals and lots of them, such as winning a free movie if you get a green gumball from the gumball machine, purchasing five movies for $10 and the main special, rent three get a fourth free. Video Stop features all kinds of retail available such as DVD’s, Blu-Ray’s, Video Games, and yes, VHS Video Tapes. Through all of this, a world record was set by Gray opening up for business every day for 14,000 days consecutively. That’s everyday 365 days a year since Gray purchased Video Stop in 1988. But it wasn’t all just him. Bill had the support of his wife and five children. He credits them and his family friend, Justin Rose. They were intregal in keeping the lights on in 2012 when Bill had to go to the hospital for Open Heart Surgery which kept him out for 45 days. His son Billy and daughter Erin in particular took over and ran the store until Bill was able to return. Yes, despite Bill being out, Video Stop never stopped running. In fact, through rain, sleet, hail or snow no matter the weather Video Stop remained open. Not one single day missed. His family and Rose still help him with running the store to this day.
After 38 years, Gray is shutting down the store. He started in September to clean out the store with a major sale. Each Movie is $1.99 each and for DVD and Blu-Ray Movies, 12 for $19.99, 50% off on all games and many movies are just $1.00. There are also thousands of Movie Posters available from over 38 years.
Bill would like to thank all of his customers who over the years came through. Particularly, his most consistent and loyal customers, Steve Hawkins and his wife, they were there every Tuesday for new movie rentals. He would also like to thank his wife and five kids who helped him keep the place running all these years. If there’s anything movie or video game you would like to get in physical media or perhaps find a piece of history in the thousands of Movie Posters he has available as well as possibly an old VHS Video Cassette of your favorite movie, come down to Video Stop located at 17775 Highway 64 Somerville, TN and get them before Video Stop turns off the light for the 1st time in 38 years for good.