The Video Gallery in Park Slope is closing.
One More Folded Sunset writes, "It had to happen sooner or later. At a time when the video store is practically extinct, the much loved Video Gallery, on Park Slope's Seventh Avenue, will be gone by the end of the month. Last time I returned a DVD there, a couple of weeks ago, the owner, Kathy Smelyansky, waived my late fee, and I guessed the end was in sight."
Recently, I took the above photo, thinking how melancholy is the video store at night, a little lonely. I wondered how long before it was gone. Brokelyn says it's the last video store in the neighborhood.
Says Folded Sunset, "When you go into the store right now, the atmosphere is one of shocked sadness, and appreciation. We can't believe the place is really closing! There's a sale on in the store & the DVDs are disappearing fast."
10 comments:
Nobody laments the loss of our business's more than I do but things like this dont make me sad. Video stores are obsolete.
I dont understand why video rental stores are closing because they are outdated but redbox, which is essentially a video rental store with a much more limited selection, is thriving.
Although it's undeniably sad when a small business fails, this one might have more to do with how technology moves forward and the way we live changes.
Videos/DVDs are becoming increasingly useless as video on demand becomes easier to use. Add this kind of business to the village smithy, anvil salesmen, buttonhook-makers, etc.
Oh definitely it shows how the way we live is changing, and the video store run - starting in the late seventies - wasn't a long one. Still, I preferred going to a store, finding something unexpected, getting a recommendation, to looking online. Last year one of the Brooklyn Public Library bigwigs, taking pictures of the Pacific branch to exaggerate its state of disrepair (the BPL wants to sell it to developers) told me that "people don't browse any more. They order the books they want to read." That's the argument for fewer titles on the shelf. And smaller & fewer branches. Videos - way less important, I agree. But you lose a lot when the pleasures of browsing, the joys of the random, and the expansion of your thinking that comes with these opportunities starts to get taken away. And that's happening big time.
This one hurts. Though I lived in NYC for some years, I am now in Dallas, and have just left my position at one of the few video libraries in the state. It is a standing treasure of both current DVDs and out-of-print VHS films, both formats going out on rental each day. But the circulation is ebbing, and hemorrhaging financially. While I adore the library itself, this writing on the wall situation has brought on a sense of bitterness to the owner, and I cannot abide a toxic environment.
Netflix, Redbox and other online streaming services have taken a huge bite out of these business' income, certainly. The most loyal segment of our clientele has included cult fanatics, documentary junkies, those seeking obscure films that were never put on DVD (and are impossible to find online), and the baby boomers - along with those of older generations than they. The former seek us out for our archival rarities, the latter for access to a tangible, brick-and-mortar business to spend a great deal of time perusing, largely without disturbance. No music, no television screens, no distractions... just the films to consider - a deeply unusual retail environment in this age. Frankly, I get the sense that this kind of experience put off many younger people, as I heard many complaints about it being "too quiet". Funnily, it's not easy for them to focus, with such a lack of distraction!
Ah, well - I'm babbling. Just to say that my heart aches when I see yet another video rental library close. The times are indeed a-changing, and the world has little room for such services. As one of our regulars said, after unsuccessfully offering to buy my old boss' business, "I should be thankful, as much as I love this place - it would be like going into the buggy whip trade."
I'd agree with you @onemorefoldedsunset. In order to order a book, you have to know what is out there in the first place. Most of the time when I go to a library it is with no specific book in mind. It's only after spending an amount of time browsing that I come away with any number of books. Maybe sometimes I'm in the mood for fiction, or sometimes on a whim, I'll look for something about math or woodworking or politics. But if I had to specifically order something, I'd have to know what was out there.
What I find sad about this store closing is that it gave the neighborhood life later into the evenings. As these stores are replaced by banks and nail salons we see less and less nightlife. We need late night stores to keep the city alive past 8pm.
Here's another reality: Netflix will never allow you to drop in and talk to someone as lovely as Kathy Smelyansky - did anyone else have a crush on her? Will miss the store too...
On the UES there is still a mom and pop video store, Fifth Dimension Video (1427 York Ave, New York, NY 10021 between 75-76 Streets) and even they are consolidating their space--a tighter squeeze for browsing.But, at least you can still pick up a box and look over some videos and maybe walk out with something you didn't even know existed when you walked in.
i really miss the ritual and excursion of going to purchase and peruse media: books, records, DVDs etc. I miss going to Kims Video and learning about underground film and indie music. All that stuff. That being said, I agree with another commenter who said that these stores are obsolete. They are.
What's worse, a couple years ago I tried to patronize a video rental shop in Boerum Hill (wont name names but its on Smith St, and theres only one, so figure it out) I wanted to relive that old feeling of supporting a cool indie-centric business. And when i was a day late returning my rental I got in an argument with the guy behind the counter because he wanted to charge me MORE for a late fee than if I had just agreed to rent the video an extra day longer to begin with. So they basically lost my continued patronage over an extra 2 dollars.
In this climate, that was really dumb. I have no sympathy for that store. With policies like that I HOPE they are struggling.
Netflix and pirate sites work just fine for me.
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