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Jiri Hrdina · 03-25-2021, 11:53 PM

I worked at video stores throughout most of University. It was a great job. My first stint was at More Than Video in Huntington Hills (where the Black Bull pub is now). It was a great independent store that died when we moved down to just off McKnight by the old hotel.

I then worked for Rogers Video. The cool 2 story one on 14th street NW (where Zarley Zalapski RIP and Rick Tabaracci would regularly come in), followed by the one up on Country Hills, Woodbine and then the Mt. Royal location (where Cibo is/was now). The latter was an awesome location - cool old building (that we thought was haunted), and really great clientele.

I eventually stayed with the company after graduating and my first real job was working in the marketing department in the head office in Richmond. Bruce McCulloch would come in from time to time.

I have a ton of fond memories and miss video stores dearly. In an on-demand world where you can watch anything, there thrill of unexpected discoveries has been lost. Some of my favorite movies are ones that I found when the new release wall was picked over and you had to "dive into the shelves" to find something. I enjoyed recommending those types of hidden gems to customers and then hear how they loved them when they returned the next day.

Just good times. I supported as many of the last standing video stores in Calgary until they all died off. The last one was actually a place call Hollywood Bollywood (I think) in the NE. They lasted just a touch longer, if I recall, than Casablanca.

Other ones I remember
- Flicks
- Video HQ
- Just New Releases
- Jumbo Video
- Video and Sound (downtown on Centre Street - HUGE selection)
- GUN Video (store on Edmonton Trail that was a Gun store and when it turned into a video store they were too lazy to replace the sign - so just called it GUN video)

03-25-2021, 11:53 PM	#2721
Jiri Hrdina Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2014 Exp:	I worked at video stores throughout most of University. It was a great job. My first stint was at More Than Video in Huntington Hills (where the Black Bull pub is now). It was a great independent store that died when we moved down to just off McKnight by the old hotel. I then worked for Rogers Video. The cool 2 story one on 14th street NW (where Zarley Zalapski RIP and Rick Tabaracci would regularly come in), followed by the one up on Country Hills, Woodbine and then the Mt. Royal location (where Cibo is/was now). The latter was an awesome location - cool old building (that we thought was haunted), and really great clientele. I eventually stayed with the company after graduating and my first real job was working in the marketing department in the head office in Richmond. Bruce McCulloch would come in from time to time. I have a ton of fond memories and miss video stores dearly. In an on-demand world where you can watch anything, there thrill of unexpected discoveries has been lost. Some of my favorite movies are ones that I found when the new release wall was picked over and you had to "dive into the shelves" to find something. I enjoyed recommending those types of hidden gems to customers and then hear how they loved them when they returned the next day. Just good times. I supported as many of the last standing video stores in Calgary until they all died off. The last one was actually a place call Hollywood Bollywood (I think) in the NE. They lasted just a touch longer, if I recall, than Casablanca. Other ones I remember - Flicks - Video HQ - Just New Releases - Jumbo Video - Video and Sound (downtown on Centre Street - HUGE selection) - GUN Video (store on Edmonton Trail that was a Gun store and when it turned into a video store they were too lazy to replace the sign - so just called it GUN video)