Toronto’s Best Video Stores
May 11, 2011 by manniehall
Regan Reid & Manori Ravindran
If you ask any Toronto video store owner, they’ll tell you that the rental industry isn’t what it once was. According to an employee at Suspect Video, a DVD that is rented about 60 times in 2011 is doing pretty well. But in the nineties, that same film on VHS would have been checked out about 600 times over a couple of years. Nowadays, with most people turning to the Internet to download films or subscribe to Netflix, it’s becoming harder for video stores to compete.
But there’s something about visiting these local businesses that keeps some of us going back. Maybe it’s the movie recommendations from the raging cinephile behind the counter (a real human being, not a tomato-scale), or the thrill of the hunt for that rare classic. Whatever your reason for choosing a local establishment over the Internet, we happen to live in a city that’s teeming with some of the best video stores any film buff could hope for. Listed below is a selection of stores that each brings something unique to Toronto’s video rental scene.
Black Dog Video | 986 Queen Street West | 416-530-0006
Black Dog Video is more than a movie store. It’s also a cute cafe, which has somehow mastered both the young and hip and mom-and-pop-shop vibes. They’ve got more than 13,000 videos to choose from, coffee and desserts to enjoy and even Black Dog T-Shirts for sale. At first glance, the shop looks tiny, with just a couple of chairs and tables, and one (exposed-brick!) wall adorned with staff picks and new releases. But make your way down the tiny hallway and you’ll find a big back room full of films to enjoy. And the best thing about Black Dog (well maybe second-best, I didn’t sample their milkshake) is their organization. The films are arranged into sections such as “Criterion,” “Director” or “Foreign,” making it super easy to find what you’re looking for. Plus, the hanging chalk-board signs, which mark each section, are fun and add to the visual appeal of the place. New Release: $5
Bay Street Video | 1172 Bay Street | 416-964-9088
For movie-lovers, Bay Street Video is a Toronto institution. It might not have the greatest aesthetic appeal, but with more than 21,000 films to rent and an additional 5,000 to 10,000 to buy, Bay Street has everything you need (and if they don’t, they’ll order it for you ASAP). In order to provide its customers with as many movies as possible, the shop organizes its films into rows (and rows and rows) of flip cases – like the kind you see in a poster store. The system works; the place is jam-packed with awesome movie finds. But if it seems overwhelming, ask the staff for help. They’re incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely interested in film. New Release: $4.95
The Little Video Shop | 13 Baldwin Street | 416-205-9435
The Little Video Shop makes up for what it lacks in size with personality and charm. Stop by this colourful Baldwin Village movie store to browse its more than 7,000 titles, eat some free popcorn, or talk movies with owner Leila Deciantis. She’ll gladly chat about why video stores are better than Netflix (is there really a debate here?), the importance of community, and – of course – all things film. This little shop is more than just a movie store; it is a genuine community hub. Deciantis plays free movies on her projection screen outside in the summer, she serves coffee and gelato and even offers free Wi-Fi. Though Little Video has a small collection, it’s an impressive one. You’ll find all the new releases as well as a wide array of classics and foreign films. And if you’re like Deciantis and enjoy documentaries, stop by on Tuesdays when you get a free doc with a new release rental. New Release: $5
Queen Video | 412 Queen Street West | 416-504-3030
Ask any Torontonian film-lover where to rent a movie, and they’ll tell you Queen Video. With three locations, Queen has made a name for itself as one of the best independent video chains in the city. The shop first opened in 1981 with only 175 VHS tapes, but has grown to include more than 60,000 DVD titles in its three locations. As owner Howard Levman says, they specialize in everything – and he’s not lying. You will find new releases like Morning Glory to obscure films like Michael: Gay themed videos of the German silent era – and everything in between. You won’t find any coffee or gelato here, they’ve stuck to their original formula of just renting videos, but they have one of the cheapest rates around for new releases and an unbeatable selection. New Release: $4.20
Suspect Video | 605 Markham Street | 416-588-6674
Tucked in a corner next to Honest Ed’s department store, Suspect Video – a cinephile’s haven –
has been serving the Annex since 1991. The store specializes in horror, sci-fi and exploitation genres, but also supplies a wide range of other films. That means that while you may see Love and Other Drugs in one corner of the store, don’t be surprised to spot titles from the “Nasty Nun” genre elsewhere. Though most of its 40,000 titles are on DVD, employee Glenn Salter says it’s the store’s array of VHS tapes that sets it apart. “There’s still a lot of movement among the VHS collection,” says Salter, who’s been working at Suspect for nine years. “The ones we kept are titles that aren’t available in DVD.” So whether you’re a film student trying to find a rare VHS title for class, or a sci-fi junkie looking for your next fix, Suspect’s formidable collection will rise to the occasion. New Release: $4.50
Film Fest DVD Rentals | 405 Duplex Avenue | 416-322-3555
When Film Fest opened seven years ago, it was the first video rental shop to offer exclusively DVDs. The Midtown store continues to be an anomaly, stocking its shelves with everything from classic Disney films to the latest Gus van Sant feature, instead of catering to a specific market. Employee Jake Dolgy has been around since 2004, and says it’s the variety that makes them different. “It used to be that with the Blockbusters around, independents had to carve out niche markets for themselves…But now the video store itself is the niche. So, rather than alienate certain markets, we’ll try to cater to all of them as best we can.” With just under 11,000 titles and over 8,000 members, they’re doing pretty well, too. In April, the store moved to a new location (2305 Yonge Street) just around the corner, and rebranded itself as Upstairs Video. But wherever they are, this Midtown spot will continue to give preppy Yonge and Eglinton some cinematic street cred. New Release: $5
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