Written by Claudia Cruz
The era of video rentals in Mountain View will come to an end next week, when Videoscope closes.
"We had the best selection in the Peninsula," said owner Odon Sy, a friendly and talkative man.
He said that Videoscope used to have 25,000 DVDs; 22,000 VHS and 10,000 Laser Discs at storefront on 2290 W. El Camino Real between Rengstorff and Ortega Avenues.
"The studios really messed up with the Laser Discs. They were too heavy to ship."
Sy, with the help of family and friends, are trying to sell as much of the inventory as possible before their forced eviction, likely to occur on June 26. He's trying to get more time, but the landlord hasn't responded to his request. Videoscope is the last local video store to close, following Blockbuster and Hollywood Video.
"I hate to break it up like this," he said about the library. "Someone was going to buy the whole library but didn't."
Selling and renting VHS tapes since 1982, when it was "hot," Sy remembers when people would line up for titles. Now, most people watch on Netflix. There are a few collectors around, he added who want some of what he has, including one at the store looking for adult films.
Whatever he doesn't sell by next week—most DVDs are $4 and VHS tapes $1—Sy plans to sell online.
"In the first place, we were barely making it, and then the landlord tripled the rent," Sy said.
But Sy's keeping a positive attitude and said that he even thanks the landlord for this. He does hope to get a job somewhere, though the former engineer realizes the limitations at his 69 years of age.
"I would like to be a technician," he said.
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