Total Video Is Closing Soon

I don’t rent DVDs during the summer so I was probably one of the last people to notice that Total Video on Kitsap Way is closing soon (see photo). The store stopped renting movies and games a few weeks ago and is in the last stage of selling off its stock of DVDs and VHS tapes. Everything that’s left is on sale for $2. Yesterday I picked out a couple of DVDs to zero out the small balance in my rental account.

When my sister’s neighborhood video store (a Blockbuster in Del Mar, CA) closed, I was sympathetic, but never thought the same thing would happen here. Total Video seemed too well established with a great location, legendary service, plenty of customers, and super friendly employees. They’ve been in business for 25 years.

At one point Total Video had four stores in Kitsap County. Even when the other three locations closed their doors, I figured the owner would find a way to keep the flagship store on Kitsap Way open despite the lingering recession. The person who waited on me yesterday told me the main threat to video stores is piracy. But DVDs delivered directly to homes via streaming or mail by companies like Netflix must be difficult to compete with. Not to mention Red Box’s $1 rentals.

Browsing the shelves yesterday brought back memories of the 15 years I have been a customer at Total Video. The selloff started at the beginning of September so most of the stock is gone. Still I noticed a few movies that I remember renting and liking, many selected on a whim: Down in the Valley, Lords of Dogtown, Don’t Come Knockin’, Coastlines. For the two movies I took home, I selected one I plan to watch again, Laurel Canyon (a film directed by Lisa Cholodenko and starring Frances McDormand as a rock-and-roll record producer), and one I haven’t seen, The Gatekeeper, a drama about migrant smuggling set on the U.S.-Mexican border. At $2 each they were cheaper than rentals.

I’m left with two questions now that the surprise and disappointment are beginning to wear off. First, what new business will be moving in assuming the landlord can rent out Total Video’s space? Second, Netflix or Red Box?