Streetlevel: Free of Video Free Brooklyn on Fifth
Video Free Brooklyn, the sister store to the one on Smith Street, has shuttered its doors. The store opened at 145 Fifth Avenue, at Douglass Street, back in February. Are folks cutting DVDs from their household budgets, too? We got the news from Brooklynian, but GL’s source reports that “the level of rentals, and therefore…
Video Free Brooklyn, the sister store to the one on Smith Street, has shuttered its doors. The store opened at 145 Fifth Avenue, at Douglass Street, back in February. Are folks cutting DVDs from their household budgets, too? We got the news from Brooklynian, but GL‘s source reports that “the level of rentals, and therefore revenue, wasn’t high enough to cover the expensive Fifth Avenue rent.” GMAP
I have been a member at the Smith St location for years and even with DVD buys and Netflix I STILL rent quite a bit. I guess I’m an anomaly. I rent 4-10 titles a week (no exaggeration) and maybe get a skipping DVD once or twice -a year-. So…I have nothing but good to say about them…
However, sadly, their selection is surprisingly mainstream given the sophistication and cahet of their community. I don’t expect Mondo Kims but sometimes I’m shocked at how few foreign, art and documentary bases they cover and how many Dumb and Dumber movies they seem to stock.
Maybe this part of Brooklyn is less urbane than I thought. I dunno.
When this place opened I thought:
“They don’t have a chance. They are almost certainly paying much more rent than the previous tenant and how can they compete with Netflix?”
My next thought was:
“So, at what point will commercial landlords worry more about the business viability of their tenants than the monthly rent they are willing to sign a lease for? Possibly never…”
I know commercial districts like 5th ave will always have turnover, but I wonder if we will be seeing more vacant store fronts in the next year or so. The corner deli right next to this place closed months ago and there is no sign of anything happening there.
modern gay culture is wack, but so is old school gay culture. some days i just dont like being gay cuz it’s just so cheesey. i think id make a better straight person.
*rob*
rob, you mean craigslist is bad for gay culture? Coulda fooled me!
true that video stores and even record stores are a bit out-dated, but it is kinda fun to shop in both. it’s sorta sad that the internet ruined both of those experiences. oh well.. the internet sorta kinda ruined a lot of the fun things in life. some people even think the internet ruined gay culture lol
*rob*
Movie Rental in 2008 = Sliderule Sales after TI introduced the calculator
I haven’t rented DVDs in ages because I simply borrow them from the library for free. I realize some people find it too inconvenient to be dropping by their local library branch every week, but if the library is along your way then it’s the perfect solution. You can request the movies online just like Netflix. And you can keep the DVD for a week, longer than most rental stores. All for free, what can be better!
It’s explained by the fact that even my parents use Netflix.
Next in line are all those Pharmacies that opened along Court and Smith street. Do people eat medicine? Talk about poor planning and not having a business plan.