Point of View - Netflex killed the video store

Talk about it

Technology’s a double-edged sword that’s just taken another stab in the heart of Osakis.

Maybe to some, the closing of Village Video is simply a sign of the times. To me, and my family, it’s a surprisingly painful loss.

Movie night quickly became a much-anticipated tradition that began with opening the piggy banks, a quick lesson in counting change and bargaining over who got dibs on the DVD player first.

As with all siblings, the older ones quickly realized if they worked together they could have two, maybe three movies that they all liked to watch. Although, there were days one might carefully select a movie that specifically only appealed to one, thus giving the child more than 90 minutes of solitude.

Whatever the plan, we entered the video store filled with anticipation.

I think the children liked the freedom allowed at the Osakis store – owner Kelly Butcher never cringed when they picked up a movie, put it back, picked it up, carried it around, put it back in a different spot or even accidentally knocked a row of cases onto the floor.

Movie night was about freedom – freedom to choose any movie you wanted, freedom to take as much time as you needed, freedom to change your mind.

Of course it wasn’t only about the movies. While mom stood at the counter visiting with whoever was working that evening, there was plenty of time to sort through the poster box.

Yes, Kelly offered old movie posters free to her customers – a true treasure considering it only took four quarters to get a movie and a poster.

Breaking the news about the end of movie night was tough, there were tears and difficult questions.

Interviewing Kelly was just as tough. She truly loved her business and as she sells her movies to beloved customers, each takes a little piece of her heart.

Here’s wishing Kelly Butcher and her husband, Bill, all the best. Thank you for giving us many movie nights and many precious memories.

Tags: point of view, greta petrich, opinion, editorials