My favorite video store has been sold and taken over by Demons from the 9th Circle of Hell.
Hoboken has a Blockbusters (which I refuse to frequent) and a Hollywood Video which is all well and good – but their selection focuses on the last 10 years of movie history as opposed to the last 100 years. And that doesn’t work for me and my taste. If I want to see It Happened One Night, it’s nice to know that I can, if I want to. My old video store had it. They had every Bogart film. They had many Cary Grant films. James Cagney. Hepburn. It was a treasure trove.
And best of all – it was run by movie geeks. People who actually knew about movies. You go into Blockbuster and half the time those people look at you blankly if you bring up a movie that wasn’t … well … a blockbuster from last summer. Those people could work anywhere.
My video store had closed down for the last week, and I thought it was just that the movie-geeks wanted a vacation. But I swung by there on Saturday … and immediately knew something was different.
There was a new rug put in, first of all. There was a fish tank next to the check-out counter. Loud hip music was BLARING. There was this cheesy contraption over in the corner which … hard to explain … but there were fake flames going, and some kind of wind machine, making the fake flames waver about.
My old video store had no artifice. It was a dump. Flourescent lights, rickety shelves … the walls covered in movie posters …
The whole newly decorated place was different. Too clean and generic (well – generic except for those fake flames.)
A girl was behind the counter. Which was also a sign. Only guys worked there before. She was young, “hip”, and had a nose-ring. I wasn’t the only person baffled – there were a couple of other confused-looking people wandering around, trying to figure out what the hell had happened.
The girl came out from behind the counter, friendly, “If any of you have any questions …”
I said, “Are you guys … new owners or something?”
“Yes.”
“So … will my account that I used to have still be good, or …?”
“No … and we’re not renting movies right at the moment … we’ll be ready for that in a couple of weeks … and once that happens, you can set up an account with us again.”
I didn’t like the fake flames, or the fish tank. I did not approve. I missed my geek-boys who used to laugh at me when I rented The Big Sleep for the 3rd time in a 2 month period. Would this hip nose-ring girl understand that?
But here’s the clincher – and – for some reason, I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS:
She said to me, excited, her face open, fully expecting that I would leap for joy, “We are only going to keep romantic comedies in stock. That’s our thing. The new name of the store is “Romantic Depot” – so we’re going to focus mainly on romantic comedies.”
I have one thing to say: EUUUUUUUUUU
I kept my counsel and said, calmly, “The main reason I used to come to this store is because of all the old movies – Will you be keeping those?”
She shook her head regretfully. “No. No more old movies. We’re selling all of those off.”
Selling off all old movies, all kids movies, all dramas … and only keeping “romantic comedies”. I just … have a visceral dislike of this.
I promptly bought 4 old films (Sunset Boulevard, The Talk of the Town, Suspicion, and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer) for the whopping total price of 10 dollars.
I have so many thoughts about this.
My main thought is that that is a stupid business model. I could be wrong – but I don’t think it’ll last. Maybe it would last in MANHATTAN, where you can get as specialty-focused as you like, because there are so many other options for people. You can have a store JUST with gay and lesbian films, or horror flicks, or kung-fu movies in New York City. As a matter of fact, your business will flourish. But in Hoboken? With romantic comedies?
What on earth could be the rationale? That there are so many chicks in Hoboken?
But … what about the guy population?
And what about the chick population who either doesn’t care for romantic comedies — or has eclectic taste – or occasionally wants to branch out and see Aliens or something like that?
Also … what exactly COUNTS as “romantic comedy”? Do they think that women won’t want to see, oh, The Insider? Or Schindler’s List? Why limit yourself?
What were they THINKING?
I’m mad. I’m sad.
And judging from the looks on all the other old customers wandeirng around confused (most of whom were women), I wasn’t the only one.
Romantic Depot? Does The Sting count? How ’bout Bonnie and Clyde? No?
Not my scene at all. They’ve lost my business, and I’m going to have to find another place to get my fix.
Bummer.
Dumb idea, it seems to me.
Also, I’m going to miss the gentle teasing of my movie-geek guys. They were cool.
I’m not sure how the Hollywood Video is out there, but out here it’s terrific. They carry these crazy independent films that no other store in town would touch. We go in and grab one at random – it’s always a crap shoot with indies, but even the bad ones are fun for the sincerity and the challenge of making a movie with a shoestring budget.
The indie-selection is amazing, that’s true – You’d never see 75% of that stuff on the shelves at Blockbuster or anywhere else. It’s really the extensive old-movies section that I am missing …
That sounds like a horrible business model. Besides, “Romantic Depot” sounds like a place that sells “adult novelties”.
Since I know you don’t have a DVD player, I won’t pimp any alternatives.
Romantic Depot?
Oh. The. Humanity.
In the absence of a decent video store, netflix is the way to go.
I know, Bill – I need a DVD. Then I can just sign up for Netflix, right, and be done with it!!
Is this Take 3, or whatever it was called?
You’re right, this may be the dumbest business model ever. “yea, let’s only carry one genre!” “Let’s go out of business in two months!”
Oh, and speaking of “adult novelties” – my old video store had a porn selection in back. It was the only porn-option in Hoboken (as far as I’m aware of) – So there are gonna be a lot of pissed off people.
Whaaaat? No DVD? You gotta get one – they’re wicked cheap now.
Steve –
Yeah. Take 3. Buh-bye to Take 3.
Dan – I know. I know. I need one! I’m prehistoric.
You would think a store named “Romantic Depot” would have kept the naughty section in back. Heck, at some video stores, that’s half the stock; for that’s where the independent stores make all their money.
That said, DVD players can be had for as little as $50 or $60. I was a late convert to the DVD revolution but I’m definitely pleased with my player. The capability to rewind and fast-forward quickly and effortlessly makes it all worth it.
Also: I don’t understand why they opened the store if they weren’t renting any movies. Wouldn’t that just aggravate their already furious customer-base even further?
Ben – I’m sure their porn section did a huge business, because Blockbuster doesn’t have any.
I guess “romantic comedies” really means stuff of the PG-13 realm. Crap like Maid in Manhattan or something like that.
Ben – I don’t get why they opened it up either without people being able to rent films … I don’t have a membership at Blockbuster, and I’m sure many others don’t. So now we’re out of luck.
I may go back and buy some more old movies. They had True Grit, a couple of other great ones. Fine, if they think classics such as those are only worth 1.50, that’s THEIR problem!
Aliens isn’t a romantic comedy?
Personally, I get a really gushy feeling inside when I see Aliens … makes me want to cuddle up to my man-friend and whisper sweet sweet nothings. But that’s just me.
“My old video store had no artifice. It was a dump.” – I love this line. It makes me think that Sheila and I would have the same tastes in bars, where the only important thing is that the beer is ice cold.
Noggie: YEAH, BABY!!
What good is a pristine new rug and a feng-shui fish-tank if you don’t think Casablanca is worth having on the shelves??
Gimme a cold beer. :)
Yeesh. Good independent video stores are dying off way too fast. If you don’t find a decent replacement, I also recommend taking the DVD player/Netflix plunge. And even if you do find a replacement, I’d still recommend it; I’m guessing you’d love the commentary tracks.
All the video store chains seem to be hurting these days: especially Schlockhustler, which Viacom spun off earlier this year. I don’t see how any of these stores can compete with all the cheap DVDs out there. Why rent when you can own for $10?
Oh Sheila you have my sympathies. I mostly don’t go in any video store because they don’t have old movies. I really feel your loss.
Sounds like it was “High Fidelity,” but with videos instead of records *lol*
My condolences on your loss.
I have to agree with Ben on that, and take it a step further: I think video stores are starting to go the way of “internet cafes.” When I was in London in 1996, that was the only way I, as a poor student, could get online. Now you’d practically forget the concept ever even existed. And I think the video store chains recognize this, which is why they’re getting into the direct-delivery business to compete with Netflix.
I think all these people are doomed, anyhow. Video on Demand is coming along pretty fast. And while people actually *like* going to bookstores, I think that videostores that people go to for the atmosphere and the experience (like your departed store) are few and far between. If you can just get it on your TV for a couple bucks or so, why bother?
Romantic Depot. Hmmmmmm. Sounds like the place the studios are going to dump all the drek they adapt from the “chick lit” books that are flooding the market. When I started working on the Warner Bros. lot the first thing I did was purchase the Bogart collection with my discount. There are exteriors here that I recognize, like from The Big Sleep, and it thrills me.
I went into Blockbuster about a month ago because I had loaned out my copy of “Now Voyager” to a friend. A very good friend. I don’t loan out my movies. I’m just not that nice. Anyway, I was in the mood for it, and I was jonesing so fiercly, that if I didn’t get my fix, someone was going down. So, I schlepp to Blockbusters and ask the 12 year old behind the counter, who was chewing her gum so ferocously, I thought she’d spit blood, if she indeed had a copy of “Now, Voyager.” She took her gum out of her mouth, stuck it on the end of her finger long enough to ask me:
“You mean, like, the one with, like, Arnold Shwartzenhager?”
I then threw my snickers bar at her, and screamed: “Damned Facist!” and left.
Blockbuster can eat me.
The Last Picture Show
Theres a bit of a battle going on in my neighborhood over the recent closing of a two-screen cinema on 99th and Broadway- always sad to see a movie theater close, especially when its to make room for a Gristedes…
While I mourn with you for the loss of your quirky independant store, this seems like an interesting experiment. Genre-specific bookstores for romance readers, mystery buffs, and sci fi geeks have been very successful. Of course, they have a very well-defined demographic. “Romantic Comedy” fans are probably a little more diverse.
Of course, readers are different from video watchers. One rarely rents books nowadays, for starters.
Dearest: In our area, the public libraries have wonderful video and dvd collections, selected by librarians who love movies. They usually started with the purchase of a wide-range of classic films in all genres, and keep them up to date with the latest hits and otherwise. They don’t, as a rule, discard the old to make way for the new unless the copy becomes damaged, all at no charge. Your mother is apt to disparage the local faculty who only use the public library[“cheap Kingston faculty” is her phrase of derision]but it is a good alternative. love, dad
That’s a great idea, Dad. I shall check it out.
This whole subject made the think today that if I ever won the lottery, I’d open up a video store and find myself a whole bunch of movie geeks to work for me. We’d watch movies all day, who cares if it turns a profit, I’d be rich.
Yes, I did have time to daydream this afternoon, and I liked it.
Bill, count me in, please. :)
We can each be in charge of stocking different sections, in order to please our own various tastes.
Up here, Red, “Romantic Depot” is exactly a chain of adult stores. Just wait til you go back in few weeks. More will be wiggling than just some fake flames. That kind of stuff chasing out a cool indie store is the end of civilization. I go to two comics shops up here and one of ’em is Secor Video where Bernie has some dusty old posters for stuff like “The Mexican” still in the window. The place has more charm than the other shop I go to which is slick and too big and condescending. You don’t get a whole lot of a bargain at Bernie’s place but it helps to know you’re literally helping the man stay in business. And he’s really cool. I’d bum if I showed up one day and it was “Romantic Depot.”
About the DVD thing: I understand the resistance; I hadn’t even had a TV for about 15 years, and I was doing just fine, apart from periodic bouts of Star Trek tremens. I was at the point where people were starting to offer me their old TV’s (“g’wan, take it, my new one is over 11 feet diagonal and has a coffee machine built in, I won’t miss this old one”). Finally last winter a friend gave me his TV *and* his VCR *and* his DVD player. AND he called the car service. I couldn’t really think of a reason to say no.
Conclusion of story? This DVD thing rocks. I’ve become a special features junkie, and given the long thirst and deprivation I appreciate the toys to no end.
Recommended.
I am now the proud owner of a TV that speaks only to the DVD player and as far as I know doesn’t receive television at all. It’s ideal.
I am a member of Take 3 and saw the signs changed to Romantic Depot. To be honest with you i didnt know what to expect but i loved it. Ive never seen such a large diverse
selecton of adult dvds and vhs LINGERIE AND toys! 1000 % better than take 3. The adult secton is not like a porn shop with those sleezy peep shows but set up elegantly like a nce boutique. l10 times cleaner than our old take 3 and u guys may be lying to yourselves but face it everyone loves romance. This may sound risque but ths Romantc Depot was very upscale, good music for us Yuppies, lol and is the type of place we can now take our girlfriends to cuz they have everything to make a boring eve in Hoboken very cozy, A Winner! Im PSYCHED! YES!
popskull:
It’s a chain?? Even worse.
George: 1000% better than Take 3 except for the fact that they’re selling True Grit and North by Northwest?? Bite your tongue, man. Fine, enjoy the porn. I like porn too. I buy it elsewhere.
I once went into a Blockbuster looking to rent “Paris, Texas”. After failing to find it on the shelf, I asked the young, preppy collegiate type woman behind the counter where It could be found. Her reply: “Paris, Texas? Is that a movie?” My jaw dropped, and remained in that position as I made a beeline for the door. I’ve never been to Blockbuster since.
A thought–would “Natural Born Killers” be in the Romantic movie store? I think that fil is extremely romantic. I guess it depends on their subjectiveness.