Prime Time Video
Blackheath
I made a huge faux pas the other day. Admittedly it was a Sunday morning and I'm never at my perkiest then, but this was stupidity of monumental proportions.
I went into the video shop opposite the station and was bowled over. My feet stepped onto sumptuous dark red carpet, my eyes feasted on a simple but elegant store layout and lit up at the sight of interesting stock (though it seemed a little emptier than it could be - not sure what that was about - unless they'd had a busy Saturday night.)
It was like walking into an old cinema - clearly the desired effect. Splendid fake friezes in deco style of cinematic tableaux, curved stairways leading to different areas of the shop, fab subtle lighting - even with dark red ropes on brass stands dividing areas - it was just really beautifully laid out and I was excited. A closer look at the DVDs on offer (I didn't have time to check out the videos - which appeared to be being sold off) revealed a good selection of oldies and arthouse as well as the usual blockbusters, rom-coms and action movies.
And here comes the stupidity. I suggested to the guy at the desk they open a store in Greenwich. Of course he told me they'd just shut a shop in Greenwich. DUH...
One look at the name of the shop and it all came flooding back - as did a rather fetching tomato colour to my face. Prime Time Video. Of course. I even wrote about it. I just hadn't connected this sophisticated, beautiful place to wander round and enjoy for its own sake with the scruffy old video shop that just closed in what has to be Greenwich's worst shopping centre (next door to that dodgy old Somerfields and sundry other dead shops.)
What on earth made them open up there? Why did Blackheath get the luxury treatment and Greenwich the bargain basement? Maybe it's one of those classic Greenwich/Blackheath fundamentals that seems to apply to all wine bars/restaurants and shops (with one or two fabulously inspiring exceptions - places that keep my optimism for our wonderful, exciting town.) Whatever it is, it's depressing as hell.
Greenwich deserves a video store as classy as Prime Time Video in Blackheath - somewhere the evening's entertainment begins before the film starts - and I know just the guy to do it. Here's my fantasy. An independent video store that is as fabulous to look at as Prime Vids in Blackheath in what was going to be the lapdancing club at the Plaza run by the big guy from Blockbuster who seems to know everything thre is to know about film. Now there's a place I'd visit more than it was healthy. Actually, while we're about it, how about a small screening room in there too, with selections and introductions by The Big Man Himself (must find out his name...)
Ho hum. Back to reality and what has to be the grimmest day of the year - in effing AUGUST...
I made a huge faux pas the other day. Admittedly it was a Sunday morning and I'm never at my perkiest then, but this was stupidity of monumental proportions.
I went into the video shop opposite the station and was bowled over. My feet stepped onto sumptuous dark red carpet, my eyes feasted on a simple but elegant store layout and lit up at the sight of interesting stock (though it seemed a little emptier than it could be - not sure what that was about - unless they'd had a busy Saturday night.)
It was like walking into an old cinema - clearly the desired effect. Splendid fake friezes in deco style of cinematic tableaux, curved stairways leading to different areas of the shop, fab subtle lighting - even with dark red ropes on brass stands dividing areas - it was just really beautifully laid out and I was excited. A closer look at the DVDs on offer (I didn't have time to check out the videos - which appeared to be being sold off) revealed a good selection of oldies and arthouse as well as the usual blockbusters, rom-coms and action movies.
And here comes the stupidity. I suggested to the guy at the desk they open a store in Greenwich. Of course he told me they'd just shut a shop in Greenwich. DUH...
One look at the name of the shop and it all came flooding back - as did a rather fetching tomato colour to my face. Prime Time Video. Of course. I even wrote about it. I just hadn't connected this sophisticated, beautiful place to wander round and enjoy for its own sake with the scruffy old video shop that just closed in what has to be Greenwich's worst shopping centre (next door to that dodgy old Somerfields and sundry other dead shops.)
What on earth made them open up there? Why did Blackheath get the luxury treatment and Greenwich the bargain basement? Maybe it's one of those classic Greenwich/Blackheath fundamentals that seems to apply to all wine bars/restaurants and shops (with one or two fabulously inspiring exceptions - places that keep my optimism for our wonderful, exciting town.) Whatever it is, it's depressing as hell.
Greenwich deserves a video store as classy as Prime Time Video in Blackheath - somewhere the evening's entertainment begins before the film starts - and I know just the guy to do it. Here's my fantasy. An independent video store that is as fabulous to look at as Prime Vids in Blackheath in what was going to be the lapdancing club at the Plaza run by the big guy from Blockbuster who seems to know everything thre is to know about film. Now there's a place I'd visit more than it was healthy. Actually, while we're about it, how about a small screening room in there too, with selections and introductions by The Big Man Himself (must find out his name...)
Ho hum. Back to reality and what has to be the grimmest day of the year - in effing AUGUST...
Labels: Not-Quite-Greenwich, Services, Shopping
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:11
5 Comments:
There was a thing on the news the other day about all these video shops closing down. They claimed it was because people were downloading movies but I don't think that's the reason yet (it will be one day). The problem is these crappy Love Film companies that people use. I have tried them all and found them all ultimately useless (as discussed in a previous post). I think the ONLY way a local video library will survive is if they deliver. i.e. you phone up, say you want to rent xxx, they bring it round there and then. Most people would be happy to pay 50p more to get it delivered (say £4 instead of £3.50) and then that gives you the best of both worlds: the choice, immediacy and availability of a local store (if you've ever waited for Love Film to send you your number one choice you'll know how important this) but with the convenience (i.e. not having to get off your arse) of the postal ones. Obviously they could use this delivery method to also sell you ice cream, popcorn, drinks etc. For the really lazy they could even come round, chew it for you and tell you what the film is like to save you time... Ok, that last bit probably wouldn't look good on a business plan but the rest is sound I believe.
So Prime Time people, do up the Greenwich shop, make it luxurious for people who want to come in and browse but also have a good online listing and bring a film to me immediately when I can't be bothered to walk down the hill.
That should work for at least five more years, by which time everyone will be downloading...
I've been a member of LoveFilm for a couple of years now and find it a very convenient way to rent DVDs, especially TV series like the Sopranos or the Wire.
Don't know what problems you've been having but I have no complaints.
Well, I did a test with each of the main companies to see how quickly they would send the top item on my list (at the time I did it, it was Anchorman). I was with Love Film for four months and they still did not send it so I gave up. I had about 25 items on my list and always got items from close to the bottom of it, despite the list clearly being based on order of priority. Alright, I did want to see the ones lower on my list but as Anchorman was a new release (ish - to begin with at least), I did want to see it as soon as possible. MyMovieStream was the best, I got it in about two weeks. Sadly, the film was crap.
Agreed that rental services are ideal for things like TV shows, but I want to see a film I fancy seeing on any given night, hence why I would favour direct delivery. Obviously it's horses for courses and all that. Once I can download easily, quickly and legally I will do so. At the moment, with the closure of Prime Time in Greenwich I am stuck.
I'm not surprised (although I am disappointed) that Prime Time shut down: just look at the numbers and you can see why. I think the lease on the old premises is being offered at £16,000 per annum. Assuming that your rent represents 25% of your sales such that you can still make a profit after all your other costs (a generous assumption - for most retailers it's a lot less than that) and each rental is £3.50, then you need to rent at least 50 films a day (and probably more). I don't think it was ever that busy - that's why the mailorder merchants are doing so well. It won't be long before even Blockbuster is just a dim memory (and that's not necessarily a bad thing!!).
There's been a video/dvd shop in that West Greenwich shopping area for as far as I can remember (15-20 years or so?) but yes it is indeed closing, and probably forever.
It does seem to be an extinct trade these days. I wonder what new enterprise will open between the Wimpy bar and that delightful little charity shop.
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