Reel video

Reel Video (also referred to as Reel the Store) is a local video rental store in Berkeley, California, in operation since 1997. It was the only physical storefront for now-defunct late-1990s American online video retailer [http://www.Reel.com Reel.com] , which originally intended to turn the store into a national chain.

Reel.com was acquired by Hollywood Video in 1998; the Reel.com ecommerce business was shut down in 2000, but the Reel Video store remained open.

The Reel Video store is 8,000 square feet in size, and is known for its large inventory, including many rare and cult films. As of 2000, Hollywood Video had indicated that it planned to replicate the store's format.

History

Prior to the Viacom/Hollywood Video buyout and the downfall of Reel.com, Reel Video was an original creation by (founders here please). It has sustained its decade long reputation as a culturally legitimate icon in the business repertoire of Berkeley, CA, USA due in part to numerous factors. Known for it's provision of organic hot popped popcorn, IMDB.com/Reel.com search terminals, and its extremely knowledgeable staff, as well as it's wide and esoteric selection, Reel has become a safe haven for movie addicts and families alike. In its prime, Reel even had a film preview terminal and an outgoing phone for customers to use. Independent and innovative, Reel specialized in rare, cult, independent, children's, classic, international, and popular films, only providing mass-market films to finance continued operation and compete with chains (Blockbuster/Hollywood) as necessary. Independent and innovative, if now only in spirit, the employees are very helpful, locating, researching and acquiring titles for customers. Reel is noted for the willingness of its original owners, and now the ordering staff, to buy and rent locally made independent films, and their attention to stock detail. While you will rarely find reusable covers reused for the films, they have retained many VHS copies of their best stock and keep the store fairly clean and well organized.

References

* cite news
first = Carolyn
last = Said
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/06/23/BU597.DTL
title = Reel Bummer: Movie Web business collapses after a run-in with dot-com reality
work =
publisher = San Francisco Chronicle
date = 2000-06-23
accessdate = 2006-07-04
* cite news
first = Frank
last = Catalano
url = http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/9910/tech-catalano.php
title = The latest trend in e-commerce: real stores.
publisher = Seattle Weekly
date = 1999-03-10
accessdate = 2006-07-04
* cite news
first = Peter
last = Sinton
url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/07/21/BU13234.DTL
title = Video Wars: Independent rental stores disappearing as big chains with lower prices suck in customers
publisher = San Francisco Chronicle
date = July 21, 1999
accessdate = 2007-11-06