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MyspaceJust months after downtown Santa Barbara’s popular Video Schmideo closed, another local video store bites the dust.
This time the victim is Captain Video, which for the past 25 years has occupied a space at 1187 Coast Village Rd.
Paul Wellman
Joe Lombardo, owner of Captain Video for the past 17 years, behind the counter
Joe Lombardo, owner of the shop for the past 17 years, said a perfect storm of problems has brought about Captain Video’s closure, though he also hinted that the economy was a major factor. “People are opting for the absolute cheapest way to go,” Lombardo said. And that option is no longer video stores. Instead, Netflix and other online subscription-based services have made getting movies cheaper and easier. Additionally, the store took a hit from the Tea Fire, which displaced many people Lombardo said were regular customers. Lombardo also credits teenage males for the downturn in movie rentals, because now they’re addicted to video games, he said.
Despite the spate of local video store closings, problems aren’t unique to them. Even national chains like Blockbuster are in trouble because of Internet and cable services. Blockbuster just recently announced the loss of $360 million in its fourth quarter numbers.
Paul Wellman
Captain Video will be open until the end of the March
Unlike the many independently operated area stores that have closed in recent months, a high increase in rent wasn’t a factor in Captain Video’s closure. While rent has been increasing over the years, “even cheap rents couldn’t save us,” Lombardo said.
Lombardo will be holding a liquidation sale of one of the largest libraries around-with roughly 6,000 DVDs and 6,000 VHS tapes going on sale-over the next few weeks, and might be closed by the end of the month. “This is an emotional time for me,” he sad. “I’m going to miss it.”
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Comments
This guy is blaming everything for his business closing. I do feel sorry for him but why did he not evolve his business as times changed. It's like crying I have 8 track tapes and no one is buying them, it is every one elses fault I can't sell them. If you business model is stagnant you are bound to fail especially in a technology entertainment industry. You should place most of the blame squarely on you shoulders captain video.
titus (anonymous profile)
March 20, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Captain Video was a good store. I'll miss it. . .
Lars (anonymous profile)
May 22, 2009 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)