All good things must come to an end, whether it be a DVD movie, or the shop you rented it from.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Batemans Bay’s last DVD rental shop, Movie HQ in Batehaven, is about to close its doors.
Proprietor Gary Jones said business had been in steady decline for the past three years, and knows what has ended this movie era, which began in North Street 18 years ago.
“Technology,” he said.
“Downloads and Netflix have killed it off.
“There won’t be any video shops anywhere by the end of next year.”
Mr Jones took over the business from his in-laws Michael and Cathy Corbin 15 years ago, and moved it from North Street to Batehaven.
He said elderly customers would be most affected by the store’s impending closure.
“They are saying ‘what are we going to do now?’ – they’re not going to know how to download; maybe its something the council could teach them,” he said.
“A lot of old movies will be lost forever.”
Movie fans have frequented Movie HQ this week as the store has sold off its 15,000-plus DVDs.
“The new release stuff went first, the Stars Wars movies didn’t last long and the series The Walking Dead walked out,” Mr Jones said.
“The children’s ones went well and there are not many of the new releases left.”
The popularity of some movies over the years was perhaps unexpected.
“Joe Dirt was one that would always be out,” Mr Jones said.
“Horror was big down here; people loved it; I don’t know why.
“Sharknado rented damn well; it was so bad everyone wanted to watch it.”
Despite the often negative image of the Australian movie industry, he said anything Australian “rented pretty good”.
“Even Crocodile Dundee in LA,” he said.
“I was quite surprised; it was pretty trashy.”
Some movies weren’t as successful.
“The later Nicolas Cage and Steven Seagal stuff didn’t do well,” he said.
The sale is likely to end on Sunday.