Hometown Video employee Kathy Smith goes through a stack of clearance movies before pulling the DVDs for them, while employee Shane Smart rings up the total.
Green River residents will no longer have a video store to go to when they want to rent movies.
Danera and Scott Smith, Hometown Video owners, recently announced their intent to close the business.
On Thursday, Danera was hosting a sale to try and sell as much merchandise as possible. Several customers, although sad, were taking advantage of the sale and stocking up on all the DVDs and Blu-ray discs they wanted. Many walked to the counter with their arms full; and patiently waited as employees would find the right DVDs and ring up the totals. The DVDs were sold for $5, while Blu-rays were sold for $7.50.
From suspense, horror and drama, to children's movies and TV series; all were being sold at the same price. Some customers even came to the store will lists of what they were looking for, while others walked through each aisle looking for some of their favorite movies. Others just stopped by to see if the rumors of the closure were true.
Danera was visibly stressed, as she was trying to figure out what to do with everything. Someone mentioned that the Sweetwater County Library might like the DVD cases, so she took down contact information and planned on contacting the library about the shelves.
She was asked many times why they were closing.
"It's just not making it," Danera replied. "Too many other options."
One of her employes, Shane Smart, said there are just too many Red Boxes in town.
"There are six in town now," Smart said. "That kind of hurt us."
Smart has worked for the video store for 10 years, while Danera has worked for the store for 18 years total. She said there was a few years that she left, but then she returned to the store.
Over the years, the business did see a few changes, but nothing as big as when DVDs started to overtake VHS. Danera said when she first started working at the store, VHS tapes were all they had. Now there are hardly any of those cassette tapes left on the shelves.
For the past four and a half years, she has owned Hometown Video. Prior to that, it was called Warehouse Video.
Danera was frazzled by all she needed to do by the end of the month, and was heard saying she needed to take some medicine for her headache.
"I have to be out of the building by the end of the month," Danera said. "I have to clear out all of the movies and shelves."
As for the future, Danera does not know what she is going to do.
"I have no idea. Go find a real job," she said.
Danera wanted to thank Green River residents who supported her business over the years. Some of the customers showed Danera their appreciation and support by giving her hugs and words of encouragement.
Reader Comments(0)