«
»

R.I.P.: TLA Video South Street Store, 1985-2009

tlaIt might not be the most surprising news ever, but it’s still a major bummer: The TLA Video store at 517 South 4th Street, which for 24 years has been flipping indie, foreign and other movies and helping to blow/inspire God only knows how many young (and old) minds, closed today. (But it’s not forever, not just yet: The store will reopen on Friday October 23 for a spectacular inventory blow-out sale, and remain open through Thanksgiving.) You could say twin market forces contributed to the store’s demise: On one hand, there is the Netflix effect, which almost singlehandedly made even the most esoteric titles among TLA’s stock redundant, and on the other, there is the continuing and very troubling demise of South Street. Since so many of the Big Box stores that came in during the late 80s and throughout the 90s have pulled up stakes, the street, more than ever, is a ghost town. (We think about this, and what it might take to bring South Street back, almost once a week. It’s heartbreaking.) In a press release, TLA president Ray Murray said, “I speak for the entire TLA Video staff when I say “Thank You” to our loyal customers. It was an amazing 24-year run for our South Street store, but changing viewing habits of our customers (internet, cable, satellite, rental-by-mail, etc.) require us to change with the times.” In the meantime, the TLA Video at 1520 Locust Street remains open. Sigh.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 5:35 pm.

  • http://djrobertdrake.com DJRobertDrake

    Like other long-timers, I remember when Ray, Claire and co opened the very fist TLA Video – located alongside the TLA on South Street; in the 2nd floor of the rowhouse. Years later, I was lucky enough to house the offices for my upstart weekly arts magazine in the same location – it’s a shame to see TLA go; but quite understandable – especially in this age of Netflix and 2.0 communications.

  • ResIpsaLoquitur

    Not surprising, but still disappointing news. How much longer can the Locust Street store possibly hang on?

  • siztr

    End of an era! Just rented for the first time in a while from the Spruce St. store.

    South Street? It is going to come back, naturally, you just see. SSHD has to weigh in on quality if they can, and the rents have to be reasonable though. But it will happen.

  • jburnside

    the times, they are a changing. Soon, you will be considered old fashioned if you actually buy a printed book.

  • mBeck

    first (failing) TLA mem’ry that sticks out is the waiting list and $80 deposit for ‘Delicatessen’.

    and yeah, gone are the days of wandering around the video store back and forth trying to make some decision on what to rent . . .

  • expat attack

    @burnie

    Seriously bro, you don’t read. I’m amazed you can navigate the intertubes. I’m certain you have a helper monkey.

  • beer summit

    “The TLA Video store at 517 South 4th Street, which for 24 years has been flipping indie, foreign and other movies and helping to blow/inspire God…”

    After all that, this is how TLA is rewarded? Dude definitely works in mysterious ways.

  • the jerk

    Bummer. I feel guilty for ever having ordered a movie On Demand. This place was/is awesome.

  • http://www.PhillyChitChat.com Philly Chit Chat

    When’s the lease up at the Locust Street store? I think that’s the order they have been closing them in, not how much business they’ve been doing. NY, Chestnut Hill, Spring Garden, South Street, then no doubt Locust St.

  • ResIpsaLoquitur

    Is the Spring Garden store closed? I must have missed that.

  • arcticsplasher

    Best. Video Store. Ever. Great staff too – I’ll miss their awesome powers of recommendation. The world has changed so much since I lived near them from ’98-’00. Amazing to think I split $750 a month for a 2 bed, 1 bath apt with balcony in the center of Society Hill!

  • Tvox

    Is this all part of the trend of culture becoming a privately experienced event that happens only through our computers? One more avenue for chance encounters, human interaction and serendipity evaporates from our lives.