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Comment by belorn | Hacker News Reader

I can only guess here, but availability of content must surely be one of it. In 2015, a brick and mortar store for renting physical videos still have content which online services do not, including some movies that was in the cinema over a year ago.

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In 2015, a brick and mortar store for renting physical videos still have content which online services do not

In 2005 or even 2010 I would absolutely have agreed with you. However in 2015 all those really great independent brick and mortar video rental places I used to go to anywhere near me are long since bankrupt and closed down.

Family Video is growing pretty well. They are the only video store in my area.

I've always suspected that was due to their porn selection. A few years ago, I knew someone who worked in a video rental store in the heart of Kansas City that had an extensive "back room". It always seemed to me that the back room was the only area to get traffic. Somehow, the internet hasn't killed porn disc rentals, and I think it shows for both that small shop in Kansas City (which is still open) and Family Video.

Sounds like you're talking about Westport Video Mania. A couple friends and I go to that store about twice a year to browse around. Each time we're there, nearly all other customers that come through the front door go straight to the back room. After a few years, we finally decided to see what was on the other side. It was like the Tardis of porn...I don't know how they fit a whole other video store in there.

Family video has a pretty interesting business strategy that has kept them in business for so long

>Managers say Family Video buys and develops buildings and land, expanding the business beyond just video rentals.

http://www.waow.com/story/25971729/2014/07/08/unique-busines...

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