MovieMart in Kamloops is changing ownership after almost forty years. It is now owned by Kamloops Film Society.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/MovieMart
August 09, 2021 - 6:30 AM
The experience of renting a movie is something that most people of a certain age can relate to.
For many, it brings up welcome memories of the times spent browsing titles and holding video cassettes in our hands while a noisy television played in the background. There were “please rewind” stickers on the clunky cassettes and scratches on the discs. There were blockbusters, late fees and gumball machines.
While cassettes, DVDs and video stores have faded out to be replaced by YouTube and Netflix among many others, one little video store in Kamloops has managed to survive.
MovieMart was started by owner Denis Walsh in 1982. Over time Walsh has collected an extensive selection of movies and, after almost forty years, his collection will be moving into the hands of new owners.
The Kamloops Film Society has purchased the MovieMart video rental business and will continue running the operation out of the Paramount Theatre, beginning this fall, as announced in a media release by the society.
Society directors said they are truly honoured to keep the collection of films together and continue offering the Kamloops community the opportunity to rent the newest film releases and older favourites, including niche titles that aren’t available on any streaming platform.
“It is wonderful the (society) will be keeping this unique diverse video library intact, allowing Kamloops movie fans the opportunity to still have access to these fine films,” said Walsh, who is also a Kamloops city councillor.
Over the next few weeks, the society will bring the collection over to the theatre, sort out logistics, organize a layout, hire staff and prepare to re-open the video store in September.
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