By Jacob Mathias

Family Video will soon make pizza and movie night a one-stop shop.

Family Video, the popular movie and video game rental store chain, is expanding their reach by adding Marco’s Pizza restaurants in many ofits locations. Three new additions will soon hit the Central Wisconsin area including Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield and Plover.

(Contributed Image)

Wisconsin Rapids Family Video Manager Jake Jeffers said no exact date has been set for the pizza shop’s opening but he expects it within six months.

“I think the company was very intelligent to go out and branch into pizza,” said Jeffers. “That’s something that’s always gone together is pizza and movies.”

Ohio-based Marco’s Pizza opened in 1978 and now has over 500 stores located in 35 states. Over 100 Marco’s locations are already in place in Family Videos with 200 total planned.

While Family Video is continuing to open new rental locations, they are aware of future trends and the shrinking movie rental industry. The addition of Marco’s is a way to continue growing their business.

“It’s just something that hasn’t been tapped yet,” said Jeffers. “You have places like Redbox and Netflix that are more for convenience but no one who’s actually going to bring something to you.”

Jeffers said the Marco’s Pizza construction will subsume a portion of the north side of the store but the store will remain open during this process.

No such addition is planned for the Stevens Point Family Video location due to lack of space as well as a high level of pizza competition along the Division Street corridor.

Any pizza order will include a free five night movie rental. Marco’s will also offer delivery service which includes movies. Delivery drivers will also return rented movies to the store.

Marco’s offers a full line of pizza, hot sandwiches, chicken wings, salads and breads which Jeffers said all use high quality ingredients and dough made fresh every day.

“The garlic braids that they have are so good,” said Jeffers.

The Wisconsin Rapids Family Video is located at 820 8th St. S. See more of what Marco’s has to offer at www.marcos.com.