Revenge of the Mom n' Pop

[Ghost of AtlanticVamp]

Now with Hollywood/Movie Gallery hemorraging and Blockbuster on life-support (the us vs. Netflix/Redbox checklist on the website and windows, RE: "The Blind Side"? cute.), guess which are the only viable stores open in my town? Mom 'n pop stores. And they're raking it in.

Once upon a time, I had a fantasy of opening my own joint, full of Hammer horror, Troma, a Classic section that, you know actually had Classics (not just 70's and 80's movies), maybe even a TV section that wasn't just 24 and Lost. I would be honest with my customers: "Yeah, that movie sucks. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." But then again, it would be my joint, so maybe I'd have stuff that wouldn't suck. I'd also tell the lazy-ass kids who rent Pride and Prejudice, Othello, or Romeo and Juliet right before mid-terms or finals "Oh, so you DIDN'T read the book, huh? Gonna watch the movie? You really don't want to pass this test, do you? Because the movie is NOTHING like the book". And, because I live in the Bible Belt, I'd actually carry more than just Passion of the Christ and things starring Kirk Cameron, and keep them together in one section, not hidden among other categories. Why? Because I like to keep people from wasting their time, and when they're not wasting time, they're spending money.

But I digress.

There are three of these privately owned video stores in town and they do pretty well. They're still open, after all. I'm sure, after years of watching the Corp. stores battle it out and murder each other, they're having a hearty laugh watching them go down like Kim Kardashian in an NFL locker room. But best of all, they do it their own way.

They have their own approach to late fees, which aren't dictated by a publicist to the national media. They can run their own specials, without having to clear it with a billion different managers. They don't have to keep running boring promotional videos ---I actually caught "Faces of Death" on the TV in one shop. Sure, they subsist on 'the back room', but name a store that wasn't corporate that didn't?

The approach to the extras in these stores is pretty spartan. One store has a coin-operated Pepsi machine just inside the door. Another doesn't offer any snacks, because they share the plaza they're in with two restaurants, a grocery store and a drug store. The third is next door to a plaza that has Whataburger, Starbucks, Firehouse Subs, and Skinny Pete's wings, so they only sell novelties, but then again it's the porno store, so...

Maybe the Corp. stores, Blockbuster or not, missed the boat. I miss the homey atmosphere of the mom 'n' pop video store. I miss walking into a store that offers just what you want. Plus, because I participate on other forums, I've heard that other, larger towns and cities have similar stores that cater to their customers and stay in business, and Corp. stores are closing in droves due to their tendency to "SELL, SELL, SELL!" and offer only the mainstream. The little privately-owned stores that were struggling are seeing a resurgence, thanks to the Big Bads running themselves and each other out of business.

So, anyone else seeing this? (Piracy not withstanding.)

[abhorrent scowl]

Originally Posted by Ghost of AtlanticVamp

Once upon a time, I had a fantasy of opening my own joint, full of Hammer horror, Troma, a Classic section that, you know actually had Classics (not just 70's and 80's movies

Marry me.

Sadly, in my area, there isn't squat for mom n pop stores any more. There is only one that I can think of, and it doesn't carry anything special - it just survives by being cheap.
But I do have great fondness for the mom n pop stores. There was one in particular (long gone) that was run by 2 people (mom and pop maybe?) who had an encyclopedic knowledge of movies. You could tell this business was a labor of love for them. I miss going in there and having long conversations about the nuances of Italian zombie flicks (yay, Fulci!). Yeah, these guys were just one more notch on Blockbuster's bedpost. I'd love to see them pop up again.

[yodavsjason]

Don't forget obscure wrestling dvds.

[Ghost of AtlanticVamp]

Originally Posted by abhorrent scowl

Marry me.

I'll sweeten the pot: I also used to have a shitload of "Dark Shadows", but now am having to start over on DVD (DAMN, those DVDs are expensive!).

Originally Posted by yodavsjason

Don't forget obscure wrestling dvds.

Okay, now YOU marry ME! I used to have a ridiculous amount of WWE/WCW vhs once upon a time. I wish to the Lord they'd put out WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 out on DVD, as well as WWF St. Valentine's Massacre. Funny how you can find all the Wrestlemania's, Royal Rumbles, and Summerslams (the last two, only if you get the Anthology sets), but none of these others, unless you have VHS.

ETA: Are there any AWA DVDs that AREN'T WWE productions? I don't think so, because all the AWA stuff I've seen has been WWE.

[abhorrent scowl]

Originally Posted by Ghost of AtlanticVamp

I'll sweeten the pot: I also used to have a shitload of "Dark Shadows", but now am having to start over on DVD (DAMN, those DVDs are expensive!).


ETA: Are there any AWA DVDs that AREN'T WWE productions? I don't think so, because all the AWA stuff I've seen has been WWE.

Greatest Dark Shadows moment ever:
you know during the closing credits, they would have a camera shot of one of the rooms in the manison. But it wasn't a static shot, the camera was still rolling. So the cast is being listed, and on screen walks the guy who played Roger Collins (can't remember the actor's name), wearing a robe and smoking a cigarette. He gets halfway across the shot, looks up, notices the live camera, than hauls ass back off screen.
Dark Shadows: we don't need no stinkin' second takes!

As for the AWA, all I had was a bunch of bootleg VHS tapes. Didn't even know there were DVD releases.

The marriage proposal stands.

[Ghost of AtlanticVamp]

Originally Posted by abhorrent scowl

Greatest Dark Shadows moment ever:
you know during the closing credits, they would have a camera shot of one of the rooms in the manison. But it wasn't a static shot, the camera was still rolling. So the cast is being listed, and on screen walks the guy who played Roger Collins (can't remember the actor's name), wearing a robe and smoking a cigarette. He gets halfway across the shot, looks up, notices the live camera, than hauls ass back off screen.
Dark Shadows: we don't need no stinkin' second takes!

As for the AWA, all I had was a bunch of bootleg VHS tapes. Didn't even know there were DVD releases.

The marriage proposal stands.

My favorite DS moment: "Hickory kicks". When Victoria Winters keeps trying to find out the Collins' secrets, her boyfriend Burke Devlin is trying to talk her out of continuing it. He is trying to say "history kick", but it comes out mulitple times as "hickory kick", and at least once as "hickory stick".

[HelloItsMeMOM]

Watch for the resurgence of Mom and Pop stores ... there are many people who have been pining for their old store who are just looking to come back in ...

Count me amongst that pile, I am adding video rentals to my non profit store. So the money goes to charity .. who cares? It remains the best job I ever loved .. and I am so very glad to be coming back.

Thanks, Ozzie <3

[BUYMECAR]

when one of our sister stores closed a few years back, we temporarily took in a sweet, older lady who used to have her own indie video store that failed about 12 years before. i really really adored her as did the customers and enjoyed working with her.

one day, i finally got the courage to ask her about her store before it closed. it was seriously one of the most humbling, emotional experiences i've ever had listening to her and hearing her voice crack up.

[Morbid Angel]

Originally Posted by abhorrent Scowl

marry Me.:d

Sadly, In My Area, There Isn't Squat For Mom N Pop Stores Any More. There Is Only One That I Can Think Of, And It Doesn't Carry Anything Special - It Just Survives By Being Cheap.
But I Do Have Great Fondness For The Mom N Pop Stores. There Was One In Particular (long Gone) That Was Run By 2 People (mom And Pop Maybe?) Who Had An Encyclopedic Knowledge Of Movies. You Could Tell This Business Was A Labor Of Love For Them. I Miss Going In There And Having Long Conversations About The Nuances Of Italian Zombie Flicks (yay, Fulci!). Yeah, These Guys Were Just One More Notch On Blockbuster's Bedpost. I'd Love To See Them Pop Up Again.

Fullllllccccciiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Morbid Angel]

I think this is something unique to you area Ghost. I'm definitely not seeing it here. There was a store called Buffalo Video here that closed up shop a couple of years ago. There is another store here called Village Vidiot that specializes in really obscure stuff and they MIGHT be still in business. I'm not entirely sure.

I don't think the mom n pops have a chance in hell frankly. It doesn't matter if you're Blockbuster or "Joe's Video Playground", you can't stop the internet revolution. Redbox is doing well now thanks to their dirt cheap pricing and the fact that the damn things are everywhere, but they don't have much of future either. Once internet streaming really starts to make headway, it's game over for everyone not in that business.