For the past 18 years, area residents looking to take home a movie for the evening could find a large selection and helpful suggestions at Annandale Video and Tanning on Main Street.
That’s the way owners Stephen and Julie Grundy wanted it to be when they decided to open the store, and how it will continue until the business closes at the end of August.
"People would ask me (for suggestions)," said Julie Grundy. "They know my taste and I knew their taste. They’d ask me what I liked and I’d help them pick something out."
That’s the kind of service one doesn’t get through Redbox or Netflix, but because of those emerging technologies conventional video stores have been fighting an uphill battle.
"That has affected us. Technology is changing. There is just too much out there between Netflix and Redbox, and you’ve got streaming, pay-per-view," said Grundy. "And I think people are just more busy and don’t have time. The economy going downhill was part of it too. The last three years have been really tough."
Perhaps because of the personal touch, and because the business also offers tanning and paintball, Grundy has made things work a lot longer than most other video stores, but fading business has eventually taken its toll.
"I just can’t keep up anymore. I’m shorthanded and it’s too slow to hire somebody. I’m working every day, and I didn’t want to work every day, 12 hours a day," said Grundy. "We would still be in business if I felt like I could make a go of it, but I don’t feel like I can make a go of it anymore. The numbers just keep going down."
In that sense, the closing is almost a relief, but Grundy said that doesn’t make the decision much easier.
"It’s bittersweet. It feels good, but it’s sad also, because it’s the end of this chapter," she said. "My kids grew up here."
The store has had up to four employees in the past, and there are currently two employees in addition to Grundy.
Family focus
Grundy said she and her husband originally decided to open a video store in Annandale because they wanted one families could enjoy.
"It all started when we were talking with some friends and we wanted a family-oriented video store," she said. "We didn’t feel there was one at that time so we said, ‘Well, we’ll open a video store.’"
They purchased the inventory of a Monticello store that was closing, and after storing the items in their garage for several months opened their storefront.
"The previous video store in town was a gang hangout and people were uncomfortable going in there, so we wanted it to be more of just a movie store and not a hangout," said Grundy.
Within six months of their opening, the other video store in town shut down.
After about a year the Grundys had the opportunity to acquire a pair of tanning beds when a salon attached to their business closed down, and they added two additional beds about five years ago so couples or groups could tan together.
The paintball aspect of their business started about 10 years ago, with a field out at the swapper’s meet and equipment and supplies at the video store.
While the video and tanning aspects of the business are shutting down, the paintball side of things will remain active.
"We’re going to continue to the paintball business out there. People can go to the paintball field and get their supplies. They’ll be open during the weekends or during the week by appointment.
Everything for sale
While the paintball will continue, everything else at the store, including the movies, shelves, sales counter, DVD and VHS cases, and tanning beds are now on sale. Tanning lotions are also available, as well as a Playstation 3 system.
Anyone is welcome to purchase the tanning business altogether, otherwise Grundy is hoping to sell off the tanning beds individually. Her goal is to empty the building, which is rented, by the end of the month. Prices will continue to decline as the end of August approaches.
"I just want to thank all the loyal customers that have kept us in business for the last 18 years," she said. "I’ve made a lot of friends as customers and watched their kids grow up throughout the years. I’m going to miss the social life and just talking about movies."
Grundy said she has no definite plans after the closing is complete.
"It will just be a new adventure," she said.