Glebe Video Stands Alone
In the 1980s, Ottawans could get their rental-movie fix almost anywhere — the neighbourhood Mac’s Milk, a sketchy depanneur, or one of the many video stores that dotted the city. But that changed once people got used to deciding when and how they would watch their entertainment. So VHS begat DVD, which begat Blu-ray; then such options as on demand and Netflix led to the inevitable: digital killed the video store. After Blockbuster fell, persistent independents fought valiantly to stay afloat; Elgin Video, one of the last holdouts, shuttered this past spring. But one store endures — and to the delight of local film nerds, it has remained virtually unchanged since it opened in 1986.
PRESS PLAY
On the second floor of an early-20th-century Bank Street building, which also houses a dry cleaner and a pub, Glebe Video International is hiding in plain sight. The fourroom cavern is stacked from floor to ceiling with such labels as Canada & Quebec, Independent, Rohmer, and Sturges. Far from elitist, the store rents out everything from new releases to kids’ movies. They have all the films you know you should watch, as well as the guilty-pleasure flicks you want to watch. And if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, they might have it on VHS. (Remember: be kind, rewind.)
PAUSE
“We joined the first week they were open,” says member Phillip Nicholson, “but our card has long since disintegrated.” No matter. Behind the counter are several binders brimming with inventory and membership info. The store has never had a computer system, and there is no plan to get one. With staff who have a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the customers and 15,000-plus DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS in stock, a computer would just get in the way. Glebe Video is the epitome of that ever elusive quality that all the hip urban shops and eateries long to embody: it’s authentic without even trying.
REWIND
You won’t find Muncie font or the word at Glebe Video, and that lack of preciousness might just be what saves it. The store is unapologetically faithful to its original conceit. Cal Cheney, a 13-year employee, understands the nostalgic appeal of Glebe Video. “The store hearkens back to people’s memories of going to the video store as kids.” Indeed, it’s the kind of place where you can lose track of time while perusing the shelves and chatting with fellow members — people who don’t just know film but live it.
FAST FORWARD
It’s easy to stand in awe of Glebe Video’s comprehensive collection, but what’s even more impressive is how beloved it is within the community. “Many members consider this store to be a treasure,” says owner Peter Senecal. Neighbours come for the rentals but stay for the conversations about film, politics, and local events. For many in the Glebe and beyond, it’s not just a place to get movies — it’s an institution. “It has a social dimension. People feel comfortable here,” says Nicholson. “It’s the movie equivalent of a local pub. You can come in and talk about movies. Where else can you do that?”