From a business perspective, Robert Pollock admits Old Bar Video should've closed its doors a number of years ago, but the experience of servicing the local community has been rewarding enough to keep he and his wife Rose soldiering on until now.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They'll officially roll the credits on the Old Bar institution at the end of the month, after more than eight years of running it.
"It is sad to see it go," Robert said.
"It was somewhat of a joke I'd put out to people: 'We're pushing for the last video shop in the world.'"
Just last week a couple of comments were: 'My kids won't know what a video store is or was.'
- Robert Pollock
Robert said he and Rose knew the end would eventually come when they bought the business back in 2011, but the roll out of the NBN and the increasing popularity of digital streaming services had hastened that reality.
Merging the shop with Robert's real estate business in 2018 bought them a couple of extra years, but ultimately the day had come.
"It's come to a point where we have very few continuing regular customers," Robert said.
"Some Sundays we were getting zero customers."
Still, the experience has been more than rewarding, with Robert citing he and Rose's continuing interaction with the community as one of the most enjoyable aspects.
"The number of people we've met, the young ones. They'd come in here at two or three years of age and the next thing they're 10, 11, 12, 13 - just seeing the kids grow and mature and become young adults," he said.
"It's a very close community even though it's growing."
The community has also expressed its sadness at seeing the shop close, with some viewing it as the end of an era.
"Just last week a couple of comments were: 'My kids won't know what a video store is or was,'" Robert said.
You may also like: Harrington Sand Quarry under investigation
The video store was opened in 1989, with Robert and Rose the last of four owners.
Apart from providing a great source of entertainment to the community, Robert said it also served as an excellent training ground for the numerous young people it employed over the years.
"They'd come in when they were 15 and generally work through until they were 17," he said.
"You'd see them grow in confidence and their people skills and attention to detail."
The video shop is currently holding a major sale on all its remaining stock, with 3,000 DVDs still available at $4 a DVD or six for $20.
Get down to 2/51 Old Bar Rd, Old Bar to check it out.
Thank you for valuing local journalism with your subscription. While you're with us, you can also receive updates straight to your inbox from the Manning River Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
