Some Video Stores Still Thrive In Instant-Streaming Era
- 10 years ago
While many video stores, including mega-chain Blockbuster, were forced to close after online streaming became popular, some independently owned rental locations have managed to stay in business.
Before Netflix, online streaming or TV’s video on demand, the only way to get newly released movies was to buy them, or rent them from a video store.
Unfortunately, these new mediums led to the demise of many rental locations, including the immensely popular chain Blockbuster, which closed its doors in 2013.
While renting movies from a store seems to be a thing of the past, a few independently owned businesses have managed to thrive.
Video Free Brooklyn, a husband and wife owned store located in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of the borough, have found success where others have failed.
They attribute this to offering hard-to-find films, and employing cinephiles.
Another method to stay in business has been to form a non-profit organization, which both The Vidiots Foundation in Santa Monica, California and The Scarecrow Project in Seattle, Washington have done.
Scarecrow Video also has the honor of being the largest independent video store in America.
The continuous customer base at Scarecrow is attributed to the lack of freedom in online choices, since corporate decisions in televised and streaming mediums such as Netflix and Amazon determine what is available for people to watch.
It seems that as long as instant-streaming offerings remain relatively mainstream, video stores will continue to be patronized.
Before Netflix, online streaming or TV’s video on demand, the only way to get newly released movies was to buy them, or rent them from a video store.
Unfortunately, these new mediums led to the demise of many rental locations, including the immensely popular chain Blockbuster, which closed its doors in 2013.
While renting movies from a store seems to be a thing of the past, a few independently owned businesses have managed to thrive.
Video Free Brooklyn, a husband and wife owned store located in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of the borough, have found success where others have failed.
They attribute this to offering hard-to-find films, and employing cinephiles.
Another method to stay in business has been to form a non-profit organization, which both The Vidiots Foundation in Santa Monica, California and The Scarecrow Project in Seattle, Washington have done.
Scarecrow Video also has the honor of being the largest independent video store in America.
The continuous customer base at Scarecrow is attributed to the lack of freedom in online choices, since corporate decisions in televised and streaming mediums such as Netflix and Amazon determine what is available for people to watch.
It seems that as long as instant-streaming offerings remain relatively mainstream, video stores will continue to be patronized.