Carroll Gardens: Land of Video Stores (many of which are closed, or supported by many other services)
The Carroll Gardens area is known for many things; for instance, its brownstones, French bulldogs, and lard bread. But one thing this area doesn’t get recognition for is its burgeoning and bustling scene of closed-up video shops as well as video shops who clearly have to do way more than rent videos in order to stay in business.
Let me take you on a tour of the neighborhood so I can show you what I’m talking about.
Pictured above: VHS Tapes available for rent at a store that sells and offers 7,000,000 other goods and services, most of which you’d come to the store for long before you thought about renting a video.
First stop: The Video Corner (Nelson and Court)
Funny, huh? Looks like a bunch of bikes, right? Well that’s because The Video Corner quietly closed a couple months back, and now it’s a bike shop. That’s a shame, really because I thought it was a good little Charlie Brown Christmas tree-type place. It didn’t have much of a selection and I kind of think it stopped getting new releases back in ’95, but it just had that charm to it. Now they sell Huffys.
Second stop: Blockbuster (Degraw and Court)
Just the water stains of the now-removed marquee remain. I know, I know: death to chain stores. Hey, I know what you mean. You think I like having a Starbucks on Court Street? But I will say, they had two floors worth of movies, and they had that whole return-it-as-late-as-you-want policy, which works with my lifestyle.
Third Stop: Pegasus Video (Union and Hicks)
I just hope they keep the tattered awning up there. I’m kind of upset this place closed. They weren’t friendly (like me), but they had a lot of obscure films. I also like winged, mythical creatures.
The good news? A liquor store is opening in its place.
Fourth Stop: Lido Bar (Columbia and Sackett)
Speaking of liquor, it’s time for a bloody mary. (No video rentals here, I was just thirsty.)
All right, now let’s move on to the places that are open and check in with them:
Fifth stop: The Hole In The Wall (1st and Court).
It’s still open. But, I don’t know how. Truthfully, I’ve been thinking this place’s days have been numbered for about 3 years now. Their selection is half-decent, but they miss some of the essentials, if you ask me. There’s rarely anyone in the place, and if you look at the picture below, they’re apparently even less familiar with the Internet than I am:
Notice how they made a giant printout of their homepage. I just feel like that’s defeating the purpose: Like putting a jar of Prego on Caputo’s homemade fettuccine: It just doesn’t feel right.
Sixth Stop: Video Free Brooklyn (Smith and Kane)
I’m sorry, we don’t rent “movies.” We rent films.
Hey, Blockbuster: FUCK YOU, MAN! ATTICA! ATTICA! ATTICA!
Seventh Stop: Cobble Hill Variety Store (Henry and Degraw)
This is it. This is the place of my dreams. You need a shirt? They’ve got it. Need to mail something? They’ll do it. Need an audio adapter that was made sometime in the early 80’s? They’ve got it. A coffee mug? Perfume? Ribbon? Religious figurines? 4th of July decorations? Got it, got it, got it, got it, got it.
That new movie directed by what’s his name? Don’t got it.
And that’s awesome.
January 12th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
cologne and ribbons and hi tech all in one store….take that walmart.
January 13th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Very awesome. There’s a place by Court and Amity that’s been on the death march since I moved here. Also, any photography of Lido should document the fact that they have a bottle of Seagram’s “Gin and Juice” behind the bar.
January 13th, 2007 at 10:07 am
A few weekend ago I was (for some inexplicable reason) intent on watching Phat Girlz (one) with Monique. Having seen Phat Girlz II on the shelves at Hole in the Wall, I was suprised they didnt have the original (they seem like such a phat girlz kinda store). Dismayed at having no luck in scrounging up PG, I strolled over to Video Free Brookyn in search of a FILM that might fill the hole left by PG. I browsed the documentaries, saw nothing as “real” as monique. Checked out the new releases - Beerfest features Monique - and she is very funny in it, but I’d already seen it. On a whim I checked out the comedy section - and guess what I found??? Yes! Thats right! Phat Girlz. I was beside myself with delight. Rented it, brought it home, watched only 30 minutes of it (absolutely terrible). The moral of this long comment - dont rent Phat Girlz, but if you wanted to you could get it at Video Free along with many other fine FILMS.
January 15th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
You left out Mr. Video II on Court St between Congress and Amity.
January 16th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I went into Video Free Brooklyn once, and only once. Have never been treated so rudely in my entire life. The guy working there was the world’s biggest jerk. I keep waiting for them to go out of of business. Blockbuster never had anything in stock… I suspect a lot of the video stores in the ‘hood are closing up shop as rents rise in the area and more people subscribe to Netflix and use video on demand/cable/download movies from the Internet.
January 16th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Oh how I miss Videomania, on Smith and Wyckoff. Loud dance music all day, dumb but nice staff, and a surprisingly good selection of movies.
January 16th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Videomania had one of the best store signs ever.
January 16th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Videomania was the best. Long ago, around the early 90s there was an entire basement floor. It was ALL porn. Those were the days!
January 18th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Videomania also had a great cell phone display to entice you in.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
we love narberth video
but you are right, a gazillion mom & pops are closed
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:03 pm
[…] Those who’ve ever gotten off a train at Smith-9th Street and gone down to street level have no doubt taken note of Russo Realty, one of the neighborhood’s more, um, endearing and enduring landmarks. Local blogger 423 Smith, who’s already scored this week with a deconstruction of the Carroll Gardens video rental market, now has some fun with the bottom of Smith Street, dubbing it “The Notary District”: In Manhattan, it takes blocks upon blocks of business all doing the same thing in order for it be even considered a district. But in Brooklyn - where one man can make a difference - well, one man has made a difference: His last name is Russo (presumably - I don’t really like doing research), and his business (one of them, anyway) is being a Notary (again, research would be able to verify this, but I’ve got a cough and, well, you know how it goes)…With a little can-do spirit, some red paint, some scraps of - what is that? Old linoleum? Russo has created with his bare hands the NOTARY DISTRICT. […]
January 20th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
This is great, I was trying to figure out the name of Cobble Hill Variety and Mailing Center (to call them and see if they were open), a certain amount of Googling brought me to your fine roundup of video stores.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Hole in the Wall is also going out of business which just leaves Video Free Brooklyn (good documentary selection) and Mr. Video (nice porno ambience).
February 18th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
damm i love hole in the wall