In The Wake Of Chain Video Rental Stores Closing, Smaller Independent Outlets Are Eager To Fill The Vacuum

With the loss of things like Movie Gallery, there haven’t been many happy days recently for major video rental chains. However, apparently smaller, mom and pop shops have had a completely different time as of late.

According to Home Media Magazine, stores like Twin City Video, currently located in Centralia, WA, are having a field day in this new world of video renting. Twin City for example, will be opening three brand new stores, all within the proximity of former locations held by Movie Gallery.

Personally, this is exactly the way I see things going.

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have been skipping the larger chains, primarily Blockbuster (as it’s the biggest around my home town), and have instead gone to a smaller chain, Family Video, which is a rather big staple within the Midwest. The selection is much better, featuring foreign and classic cinema, particularly films that don’t seem to fit Blockbuster’s bill, and have also had far friendlier service, lower prices, and just an overall better experience.

It’s this ability to not only make the renting experience more personal, something that I think could really make or break brick and mortar stores in today’s world, but more importantly, it’s this massive and expansively diverse selection that in and of itself could save a shop. If you have copies of a film that isn’t available somewhere else, you are ahead of the curve. Maybe something like a Criterion based shop would be able to make a bit of a splash, because it’s the niche or indie crowd that will be able to save these stores, as things like Redbox take control of the new release market.

What do you think?

Source: Home Media Magazine