So here’s some shitty news. Marc Mohan, the owner of N Mississippi’s video store, Video Verite—and a movie critic for the Oregonian, and a hell of a nice guy—has announced on the store’s Facebook page that he’ll be closing up shop in mid-October:
We regret to announce that, barring a miracle, Video Verite will be closing on October 15th. We have tried to figure out a way to keep the store open despite the changes in the home entertainment industry, but it seems we cannot compete with the various other options now available.
While Netflix, those crappy Redboxes, and torrenting have made closures of local video stores inevitable, it still bums me out. There’s nothing like wandering the aisles of a good video store—where you’ll inevitably stumble across a film you’d otherwise never know about, or have some weird VHS or DVD cover kickstart a long-forgotten memory. When it comes to technology like Netflix, we’re gaining a lot in convenience, but we’re losing even more in personality, uniqueness, and charm. And as situations like Video Verite’s prove, we usually don’t know what we’ve given up until it’s already gone. Or on its way out.
I emailed Mohan and asked him a few questions about what, exactly, brought about the store’s closing, as well as what he’s planning on doing next.
“The growth of both rent-by-mail and streaming/downloadable content have decimated the once-proud brick-and-mortar video rental industry,” Mohan wrote. “I have been working in the biz since 1991, and since 1991 people have predicted this turn of events, which just goes to show that if you predict something long enough, eventually you’ll be right. It always seemed obvious to me that the mainstream chain stores would be the first to go, and that proved to be the case. Independent stores, which catered to a more film-literate clientele, are the last holdouts, but now they are riding off into the digital sunset as well.”
When I asked Mohan about the “miracle” he mentioned in his Facebook post that might keep the store in business, I was hoping he’d have something miraculous and video store-saving in mind. Heh. No. “You know, I regretted using that word ‘miracle’ as soon as I posted the thing, since I’m one of those dyed-in-the-wool atheists who gets annoyed when people refer to some act of human ingenuity or kindness as a miracle,” he wrote. “All I meant by it was that, if some brave, patriotic, film-loving, culture-supporting hero of the people were to step forward and say, ‘Yes, Marc, I will give you [redacted] dollars for the video store, lock, stock, and barrel,’ then that would be a way for Video Verite to remain open for all the [film] loving folks in North Portland to enjoy. And that’s what we really want, right? For the folks in North Portland to be happy!”
As for what’s next for Mohan, he’s pragmatic. “Once I get through the process of closing this puppy out, I will obviously have a little more free time,” he wrote. “I hope to me more active in the Portland film community, devote some time to that long-awaited, semi-(not really)-autobiographical novel about coming of age in a mobile home park in Wisconsin, and, most crucially, not lose money every month. That’ll be nice.”
When I emailed Mohan those questions, I also told him I was sorry to hear of Video Verite’s closing. Because, you know, I was. He responded exactly like a guy who loves movies enough to own a video store should. “I appreciate your (and others’) condolences, but I’m pretty at peace with this,” he wrote. “And with the fact that I just might have a little more time to watch some damn movies.”
Aw man! Now where am I going to get a movie and a six pack in one stop. No video store and no movie theater in the area, this sucks.
ADDED TO THE LIST OF WHALE-BONE CORSETERS AND NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.
A whale-bone corset store in that exact location on Mississippi would probably do pretty well.
Mohan just needs to hold on for about 15 years to take advantage of the nostalgia wave for DVDs.
IS KEVIN BACON IN THIS REMAKE?
UGH, STUPID MERC COMMENTING SYSTEM MAKIN ME PUT COMMENTS ON THE WRONG ARTICLE.
After a ferocious Muay Thai practice, I went to Verité searching for Mon Oncle by the seminal director Jacques Tatí. The bearded Mohan scoffed at me asking sardonically, “You find that tripe funny?” Rebuffed, I followed his suggestion. Rambo was not good. That Mohan guy is a monster!
Aww, crap. Saw this notice last night and it actually kept me up. Worked and lived a few blocks away when it opened when nothing else existed on the street except one new bar (Crowbar) the one restaurant down the street where I worked. I remember thinking this ‘hood is perfect, I’ve got my workplace, a bar and a great video store. Voila! Was on first name basis with all who worked there at the time, even with Marc. He’s a hell of a nice dude, plus being from Wisconsin as well it’s hard not to bond with a guy who’s playing Bob Eucker radio broadcasts of Brewers pre-seasons games in the store. Got tons of great movie recommendations from everyone, things I wouldn’t have seen like Von Trier’s Kingdom series, twisted and dark Michael Heneke movies and many, many more. Thanks, VV. Marc and Nick and everyone.
This is terrible news. I live very near Video Verite, and I find that if I want to watch a movie it’s often quicker and easier to walk there and rent something than it is to futz around with a bunch of dicey, slow, or low-quality torrent sites… Not that I’d ever do that. I’ll miss that place.
In my fantasy world, some things — like 23rd Street’s Music Millenium and Mississippi Ave’s Video Verite — are Portland landmarks which should always be there.
Just a reminder that Video Verite was the very first “all DVD” store, I live in the neighborhood and remember when it opened and neighbors thought it was snotty that they only had DVDs, no VHS!! Oh my, how things change, rather quickly. All of the competition cannot match the amazing selection and of course the great recommendations from the folks behind the desk. Thanks for all the years providing good entertainment!