Toronto for Rent
The answer to the inevitable question, “where have all the video stores gone?” is: crushed by Netflix, everyone. Okay, fine. Maybe we shouldn’t create a second Remembrance Day. But it’s difficult to explain to those who grew up in the post-90s digital age just what the classic video store meant to Generations X, Y and a bit of Z. I hate to use the phrase “you won’t understand, you weren’t there,” but that may just be the case. It’s easy to forget that before Torrents, before Limewire, before Kazaa, Bearshare, Morpheus and Napster (remember when those sites were new? God,...
Tucked over a convenience store in the bustling Yonge and Eglinton area, the unassuming sign for Upstairs Video beckons to northern Toronto cinephiles tired of the dearth of DVD rental options in the area. “We’re one of the last video stores north of Bloor.” says J.P Maijala of his less-than-year-old store, a true hidden gem if there ever was one. HISTORY Upstairs Video started its life in 2004 as Film Fest DVD Rentals, just a block away from its current location. Maijala explains: “My background is in filmmaking and editing and I sort of turned that interest into video rental....
In the current video rental climate, there’s no doubt that many of Toronto’s local independent video stores are starting to feel the burn thanks to the growing popularity of the digital download. Not so at Videoflicks, the midtown home video institution that’s been serving the surrounding community for more than 25 years. “[Netflix] seems to have had little effect on us; year after year we have been experiencing double-digit gains,” says owner Steve Cohen. Maybe it’s the comprehensive 15,000-strong inventory of everything from new releases to foreign to cult to kiddie favourites or maybe it’s the free popcorn and extremely...
Nestled into the pretty Baldwin Village in Toronto’s west end is a tiny gem of a shop that makes up for what it lacks in size with an abundance of charm and the feeling that you’re amongst a family of true cinephiles. The Little Video Shop acts as a sort of hub for the community, offering not only popcorn, hot drinks and gelato on top of a well-curated film collection, but also a respite from the bustling city streets....
The white and green sign above all three 2Q Video stores is as simple and straight forward as the philosophy of the store’s owners; quality films and quick service. It is a philosophy that they take seriously and the people of three different Toronto neighborhoods are the ones who benefit from 2Q’s quality selection and creative renting solutions....
When you hear Art Decor you don’t necessarily think of a top notch independent video store, but that is exactly what you get at Movie Art Decor. A poster shop turned video rental store that has maintained its excellence throughout it’s thirty-one year history. Though the store still boasts rare and collectable movie merchandise it has also become the neighborhood’s premier destination for all things cinematic. History Movie Art Decor opened its doors more than thirty years ago. Ed Guca and his wife Wanda opened as a small shop offering original movie poster art, which at the time was hard...
It’s Pride Week here in Toronto, so I set my sights on Church and Wellesley and the favorite video store in the Village, 7-24 Movies and More. Don’t let the dated, vaguely x-rated movie house exterior fool you, this is one of the finest selections of films anywhere in the city. Emily, one of the exemplary employees of 7-24, was kind enough to meet with me for a guided tour of the store that definitely should not be judged by its exterior....
Just south of Bloor Street on Bay is the marvelous multitude of film, appropriately named Bay Street Video. A testament to organization and dedication to film, Bay Street Video is unlike any video store in Toronto. The moment you step into the store you realize you are in for something special, a fact that the people at Bay Street are very proud of....
Just west of Trinity Bellwoods Park is a place where you can indulge your coffee craving, your sweet tooth and most importantly your hunger for cinematic treasures: Black Dog Video. It has been the place to go for area locals for years and it’s not surprising once you start looking around this haven for film lovers....
The adventure of cinema is the element of surprise. You never know what you will find. Never has that been more true than when I walked into Eyesore Cinema. For the first time in a long time I felt like a rank amateur when it came to cinema. Never before had I stepped into a place with so much unique and wondrous offerings for my viewing pleasure. I knew at once that Eyesore Cinema was going to be a Pandora’s Box of cinematic delights....
They say two is better than one. For The Film Buff that is very true. Whether you frequent the Roncesvalles area or near Leslieville you will find a Film Buff location to satisfy your cinematic needs. I spoke with the owner of these sister stores, now fixtures in their communities to get the whole story....
There is a time in every movie watcher’s life when they need to expand their horizons, try something new. Well, I did just that this week when I ventured out of my local area and headed west, to the neighborhood known as “˜The Junction”, where I visited with the great people at Big Daddy’s DVD Shop. HISTORY Just north of High Park at 3044 Dundas Street West is where you will find Big Daddy’s DVD Shop, a welcoming and laid back video store owned by J.R. Grassby. The store is a bright, comfortable place with comfy chairs and rocking music....
