Local video store copes with changing times

Local Cathlamet resident Carla Keilwitz is the current owner of The Video Store, located along SR4 in the same "strip mall" as the Cathlamet Mini Mart. Her store having seen at least five owners since it opened in March of 1982, Keilwitz took over ownership 17 years ago. "[The Video Store] was started by a logger and his wife," said Keilwitz. "They said this area needs to have something going on. It was my understanding that they bought it or started it and had minimal movies and machines to rent."

With The Video Store's only relocation over the past 42 years being "right next door," the business has seen its fair share of neighbors. "Phil Doumit moved the liquor store in next door, and the liquor store was there for years and years and a pizza parlor was next," said Keilwitz. "There was a pizza parlor over in the third spot for I don't know how many years. It was beneficial because it was movies, alcohol, pizza. While they were waiting for their pizza, they went and shopped for their movie, went and got their booze, and took the movie home."

Following in the footsteps of previous store owners who did away with X-Rated movie rentals, Keilwitz has seen other ways the business has been affected. As technological advances like video streaming have driven similar businesses like Blockbuster Video and Hollywood Video to collapse, Keilwitz saw business immediately cut in half with the emergence of Netflix. "When high-speed Internet came into town, more and more people would take advantage of it," said Keilwitz. "Then Covid hit and people learned how to use their Internet. That has pretty much eliminated this business to speak of."

Those perusing videos to rent or buy inside The Video Store will also notice an array of antiques and collectibles. "Antiques have always been in here because that is where my heart is," said Keilwitz. "I figured I would have more room, but DVD's keep expanding, too, and they're taking up my antiques' space. I don't have the energy to really pull in all the things I want to. I would love to expand and have all the antiques that I have available, but I only have so much space."

Though technology has gotten the better of The Video Store over the years, Keilwitz still uses it to inform her customers and subscribers by way of Facebook. "Technology still touches people because it's where we all touch base every now and then," said Keilwitz." I try to put the new rentals announcement every Tuesday."

As the occasional tourist will "make a u-turn" along SR-4 at the sight of a still-standing video store, Keilwitz told her friend and author Robert Pyle of a possible way to not only keep The Video Store in business but get a little help in the process.

"When I worked for the census, I realized there's all sorts of information we don't use that the census puts out," said Keilwitz. "One of those was the households within the county. I figured out two-thirds of the households within this county are on this side of the KM's. If every household in the county rented one movie a month, at that point in time, I figured I could afford to employ two full-time employees and pay my staff a full-time wage. That's back when it was $10 an hour. I could still afford to hire a full-time employee if every household came in and rented one movie a month. People need to realize the support of local. If we spent or donated $5 at every business in town, we'd be doing great."

Having never raised her prices since opening the business, Keilwitz offers first-run rentals at $3.75 a night and the same price for three nights for titles eight weeks old. Those wishing to rent titles over 10 months old can do so for five nights for $2. Beginning Oct. 1, The Video Store will be open Friday through Tuesday (closed Wednesday, Thursday) from 1 to 7 p.m.