No matter what Boobbuster or Netsux would have you believe, small-town video stores are still alive and prospering.
My store, David's DVD Den, located in Coupeville, WA on Whidbey Island (look on a map, it's one of those small dots off the coast of Seattle) has been open for more than a year and a half now, and we're making it by being different.
And no, it's not just because I refuse to wear pants while at work -- the shorts stay on until it snows, skippy -- it's because we've set ourselves up as a true community store.
At the heart of this is our "David's Best Ever Friends" list, posted both in the store and on our myspace page. Dedicated to the 143 (and counting) people who have donated DVD's to our ever-expanding collection, it's a testament to those who have bought in to the idea of a plucky little store sticking it to The Man.
I buy as many movies as I can on my own, but there is nothing like the joy of a donated DVD or 50. The thrill of not knowing what you're going to get is like having Christmas every day, and it's amazing what our fans have given us.
From "Pretty Poison" with Anthony Perkins acting like a psycho, to the obscure black and white sword-fest "Samurai Fiction," to the five, yes, five, copies of "Kingdom of Heaven" we've received, our DVD donation drive has helped us to build a rather diverse library of films.
Want to join in on the movement? We accept anything! You can mail DVD's to: David Svien, 145 N. Sherman, Coupeville, WA 98239 or stop by the store the next time you're on Whidbey Island.
If you have questions, you can email me at davidsvien@hotmail.com.
Remember, only you can help us fight The Man!!
