As Video Stores Ride Off Into the Sunset-- Part 1

From the October 20th Chicago Tribune "Deserted Aisles" by Christopher Borrelli.

We are fast approaching the time these once ubiquitous stores join the ranks of the old mom and pop record stores and disappear thanks to public tastes.

Christopher Borrelli asks the question, "What have we lost when we lose all our video stores."

"We've wrung hands over the closing of local bookstores, and we've lamented the demise of record stores. But video stores---should we care."

He believe video stores were always colder and less lovable.

For those of you who have never been to one, this is where you would go into the store, pick a movie and rent it for an allotted time. And heaven help you if you returned ot late or forgot to rewind it.

The emergence of Netflix spelled the end of it. The biggest video chain was Blockbuster, which at its peak of almost 5,000 stores, has filed for bankruptcy as has Movie Gallery (which owned Hollywood Video). However, there are still 3.425 Blockbuster stores left, but for how long?

Never Went To 'Em Much Myself. --DaCoot