Why I Love Toronto Reason #170
Queen Video
Yes, the Internet/ Netflix/ On-Demand killed the video store. Blockbuster went under and Rogers is closing some of their video stores/ scaling back their video selections. The Video store is dying…well big chained video stores anyways. So tonight I’m staying in, not because I’m a loser, but because this cold of mine is kicking my ass harder than bully in a school yard, but alas those are the faults of being a germaphobe. Anyways tonight I’ll probably go into the basement of my place, lie on the couch, in my robe and wrapped up in both of my alpaca woven blankets with a large cup of tea and watch a movie by myself with a box of tissue to blow my nose. I know what an ideal night.
Anyways, I love going to video stores, browsing through the shelves and actually picking up the DVD case and looking at the back pictures and reading the synopsis on the back as well as the many special bonus feature you can get like alternate endings and deleted scenes. I also really enjoy have the DVD case of the movie I rented sitting on my coffee table.
Queen Video in the Annex is my video store, but of course they have a location on Queen and in Little Italy. Its Queen Street location opened around 30 years ago and is still going strong amidst the video viewing revolution that’s occurring. It has over 75,000 titles and apparently is the oldest video store in Canada.
The chain however, did not start as a video store. In an interview with the owner, he said the original intent was selling electronics, but learned quickly that as an electronics store the business would not survive.
Therefore we have Queen Video which has survived because it part of the community and it has some of the most random films ever. Yes, it has some mainstream rentals, but for the most part it has indie films and films you probably have never heard of or thought would ever exist. The owner Howard Levman has bought films from all over the world and his collection includes silent films (which I bet are even more popular now because of The Artist), foreign films, B-movies (which is why my uncle frequents the rental store) and documentaries.
You can rent a 2 day rental for 4.75 and a 7 day rental for 3.75 or you can get a membership.
So maybe tonight with my lack of voice, I’ll rent a silent film. I feel that it’s only appropriate given my condition. Thus, for those of you who still love the thrill of renting a film and for those of you who want to experience something that is not mainstream then I say head to the Annex, Queen Street or Little Italy rent a movie and then maybe grab some dinner from the area.
That is Why I Love Toronto.
http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_video_stores_in_toronto/
http://www.nowtoronto.com/bestof/winner.cfm?category=744&area=607
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/movies/article/20707—toronto-s-top-indie-video-stores-part-1-queen-video-may-be-country-s-oldest
