In the age of streaming services, demand for video rentals has drastically decreased and many of the remaining rental stores have been forced to close down. Austin has already seen one such store close this year, and now another announced it has permanently shut its doors.
I Luv Video, an independent shop known for its rare and unique movies, has been a staple of Austin entertainment for nearly four decades.
I Luv Video announced the store's closing on its Facebook page Tuesday.
"It has been my great honor to have participated in the Austin film culture for almost 40 years," said store owner Conrad Bejarano.
Bejarano said that just because circumstances forced his shop to close, that does not mean it is the end for the city's video store lovers.
"It would bring me the utmost joy to pass the torch to a group or an individual that has the financial capacity to preserve our immense catalog of films," he said.
He only asks that if someone does this, they give the community access to the video library.
According to KVUE, I Luv Video joins the growing list of local businesses that have closed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, including Vulture Video, which shut down in April.
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