Nostalgia, free advice and 25 cent late fees: How Whitehorse's last video store is hanging on - Action News
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Nostalgia, free advice and 25 cent late fees: How Whitehorse's last video store is hanging on

They once dotted the retail landscape, but video stores are now on the brink of extinction. Whitehorse's Coyote Video refuses to go the way of the dinosaur.

'You've got to be willing to adapt if you don't, I gather you die,' says Cory Adams of Coyote Video

'Sometimes you dont always know what you want, so it's just nice to walk the aisles and get inspired by something,' said Joel Luet, a regular customer at Coyote Video. (Mike Rudyk)

Going to Coyote Video in Whitehorse is like walking down memory lane.

The latest DVDsare found in the back aisle, but there are also rows and rows of older classics that you won't find on Netflix.

"Sometimes you don't always know what you want, so it'sjust nice to walk the aisles and get inspired by something... 'Oh yeah, I've been thinking of watching that,' and just grab it off the shelf," saidJoel Luet, a regular customer.

The rapid rise of digital streaming services such as Netflix hasmade the movierental business nearlyobsolete. There is one just one Blockbuster video store left on earth.

But Coyote Video is as busy as ever, andowner Cory Adams has no plans to call it quits.

Coyote Video owner Cory Adams says he's 'just taking it day by day, and adapting to change.' (Mike Rudyk)

"Just taking it day by day, and adapting to change. You've got to be willing to adapt if you don't, I gather you die," Adams said.

He says a lot of families come to the store because of the Disney classics he has on hand.

Adams says he strives to provide a range of movies that can't be easily found online.

"This is The Crow it's the original Brandon Lee one, and it's very hard to find," saidAdams.

He says it's movies like that and the nostalgia of actually being in a video store that keepcustomers coming back.

For some customers, going to a video store is about nostalgia. (Mike Rudyk)

"It kind of reminds me when I was younger and doing that with my dad. It was an experience, to go out and get a movie and have a movie night," saidMia Ouellete, a regular Coyote Video customer.

"I feel like when you are renting online, it kind oftakes away from picking that movie for the family."

Renting online also does away with late chargesbut Luet, who lives near Carcross,sayshe doesn't worry too much about those. Coyote Video only charges 25 cents.

"We do get the odd late charges, but [Coyote Video's]late charges are super-reasonable," saidLuet.

Adams also believes his store offers something extra.

'People do come to ask us our opinions on movies,' Adams said. (Mike Rudyk)

"People do come to ask us our opinions on movies, and it's great because you are getting a whole range of different advice from all of us here," he said.

Streaming services don't offer that sort of interaction, Adamssays.

"No, you just sit there and scroll."