EVERETT — It’s almost time for the closing credits to roll at Silver Lake Video.
After 33 years of renting tapes and discs, the store’s final day will be Jan. 12.
There about 25,000 DVD and Blu-ray discs for sale for $1.99.
“There’s still good stuff hiding in there,” owner Perry Irvine said. “It’s just a matter of taste.”
Take home the comedy “Mall Cop 2” or the crime drama “Run Lola Run.” There’s a rack of Ultimate Fighting Championship discs. Stacks of “South Park” seasons. Westerns, cartoons, classics, horror flicks.
More than 55,000 titles were up for grabs at the start of the everything-must-go sale in November, which has brought in a steady stream of videophiles.
“They’re easy to watch,” said Chuck Kirchner, sifting through the $1 bargain bin to add to his DVD collection. “I’m looking for anything that’s cheap.”
The discs likely will get even cheaper before Jan. 12.
The shop at 11014 19th Ave. SE in south Everett’s Silver Lake Center was one of the few video specialty rental stores in Snohomish County.
Repeat customers kept the store going as a destination for families. It had free kids rentals, free popcorn and two gumball machines that for a quarter offered a chance at a free new-release $3.68 rental.
A giant airbrushed Yoda still greets customers at the door, but the charcoal portraits of Tom Cruise and Marilyn Monroe are gone, as are most of the glossy movie posters.
Also noticeably absent is the buttery aroma that enticed customers to linger while strolling the maze of aisles with swirly theater carpet.
“The popcorn machine was the first thing that sold,” Irvine said. “All the fixtures are sold off pretty much.”
It was the start of the video heyday when Irvine changed careers from heavy construction to movie merchant. He first opened in a spot across the parking lot from where Bartell Drugs is now.
The independent store outlasted big chains such as Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. It didn’t buckle under to Redbox and Netflix.
Silver Lake Video is closing because, after three decades, Irvine is retiring.
“I never thought about selling it. I didn’t trust a greenhorn to come in and give me his money and then run it into the ground,” he said. “It used to be a very simple business, but in the last 10 years or so it got complicated. Not to run, but to make it profitable.”
The store has six employees, including several who’ve worked there for years.
“I was ready to go,” Irvine said. “I was waiting for my wife to retire.”
Lelia retired a few weeks ago from EvergreenHealth Foundation in Monroe. They’ve been married about as long as he has had the store. He plans to hang the outside “SLV” logo sign in front of the garage at their Arlington home. Yoda is staying put.
“I need to start on my honey-do list, which is about two-and-a-half years long,” Irvine said.
“I’ll miss the customers. Coming into work every day, I don’t think I’ll miss that much.”
The store is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.
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