This little Baldwin Street shop serves up free popcorn, artisan tea, homemade Italian gelato, oh, and 7000 classic film titles.
Nestled unassumingly on Baldwin Street’s restaurant strip, the Little Video Shop has cultivated a faithful following since it opened in 2006. Owner Leila Deciantis, a voracious film buff, provides her customers with thoughtful recommendations and gentle prodding to broaden their tastes. In March, she converted the space to a partial café, though she continues to give out free popcorn like it’s candy. And also, candy.
In light of Netflix and Blockbuster’s bankruptcy, who is still renting movies?
We’ve lost around half of our customers in the last two years because of Netflix. [But] people still rent for the experience of browsing, touching the movies…discussing the movies with someone. I have about 100 regular customers—you get to know what they like and don’t like.
Can the rental industry survive?
I don’t think so. You see people now, behind the computer—nobody wants to come out. People are isolated more and more. I’m hoping that changes, but it doesn’t look like it.
How’s your store different from other independent video shops?
I love having people here, even if they’re not renting. My customers know if they’re on their way home and need a snack they can stop here and pick up some popcorn or have a chat. The store has a real positive vibe to it.
Which genre is most popular?
I’ve noticed in the last little while that it’s the older, classic stuff. I think the newer stuff is available online.
What’s your favourite?
Foreign. When you watch a foreign film, you don’t know the actors very well so it’s almost like you’re watching a slice of life.
You like to promote less conventional films—how do you do that?
On Wednesday, with a new release you get a free foreign or classic film. On Tuesday, a new release comes with a free documentary. If it’s free, they’re going to watch it. And then they go, “That was really good, can you recommend another?”
The Little Video Shop, 13 Baldwin Street. #KNM
