The end of an era: Vancouver video store set to close shop
Posted February 8, 2016 9:57 pm.
Last Updated February 8, 2016 9:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Shuffling though rows and rows of VHS tapes to pick a total before all the rentals are gone, it’s not a scene out of the 90s.
The owner of one of Vancouver’s surviving rental stores says business has been hectic.
It’s not necessarily good news though, Limelight Video’s Don Newton says after more than 30 years, they’re selling off stock and shutting down.
“Today has been mayhem, I’ve been amazed, so many people buying VHS movies that we still have in stock.”
Newton says they’ve survived this long in an online streaming world because of loyal customers and niche interests.
But you can’t press pause on the technological advances.
“It’s reached the point where it just isn’t a viable business anymore,” he says. “We’re competing with Netflix, video on demand and streaming video and it’s a very competitive world out there.”
The west side Vancouver rental shop will close its doors March 31st.
“We’ve had a pretty good run at it,” he recollects on his 33 years in business. “It’s the end of an era, no doubt, times have changed, and I really regret abandoning all our loyal customers, some have been coming in for 20 years.”
