One of Sydney’s last ever DVD stores is finally set to close down – but it ISN’T because of a sudden drop in sales
- Video Ezy Mount Druitt in Sydney’s west will close in February after 26 years
- Decline in sales, Netflix or the internet aren’t reasons for owner Geoffrey Hooper
- The business is just one of a handful of video stores remaining in Sydney
One of Sydney’s last video stores will close its doors next month for an unexpected reason.
For 26 years thousands of customers have passed through the doors at Video Ezy Mount Druitt in western Sydney, spending time in the aisles choosing between the hundreds of video tapes and DVDs.
The store has bucked the brick-and-mortar apocalypse sparked by the proliferation of streaming services, continuing to draw customers while other stores across Sydney closed their doors.
But sadly despite their loyal customer base the institution is being forced to close under tragic circumstances.
Video Ezy Mount Druitt owner Geoffrey Hooper (pictured) will shut up shop in February
Owner Geoffrey Hooper, 72, is battling cancer of the lymph nodes and while he says his prospects are ‘pretty good’, has decided make his health his first priority, especially after the death of his wife Dianne eight years ago.
‘I’m going to fight that battle rather than fight the battle of the store,’ he told Fairfax Media.
‘I can’t spend the time I need in the store. It’s time to get out.’
Mr Hooper has managed to stay business in recent years by expanding into DVD kiosks in nearby suburbs, which he plans to keep.
Sydney’s last Civic Video store closed in Bondi Beach last year, while Australia’s final remaining Blockbuster is going strong in Morley in Perth’s north-east.
Just five video stores will remain operating across Sydney after Mr Hooper shuts up shop at the end of February, from Mortdale and Caringbah in the south to Darlinghurst in the city’s centre, Ingelburn in the south-west to Windsor in the west.
Thousands of customers have come from far and wide to rent a video or DVD from the western Sydney store (pictured) in the last 26 years
‘The number of people that have come in here in the past year and said ‘I didn’t know one of these existed,’ Mr Hooper told Your Money.
‘Oh, we’ve had fun here. Silly bits and a lot of fun. I’ve just enjoyed the business. I’m no movie fanatic. But the business was interesting because there’s so many people involved.’
Rentals will continue until the end of January and a closing down sale with 20 per cent off ex-rentals is now underway.
‘There’s not going to be any big party at the end. But it’s the end of an era,’ Mr Hooper told Fairfax Media.
A closing down sale (pictured) on ex-rentals is now underway at Video Ezy Mount Druitt