From here in the UK... this store needs to be protected. People like the man who runs this are really hard to find and I would love to pop in to the store, chat and let him choose a movie for me, I know he would choose well, and I really miss a good video store. Streaming isnt the best way.

I am a NYC kid of the 80's and can relate; I was a video store rat and I would spend hours and hours scouring the cramped shelves for a certain goodie. The stores were holes in the wall and seedy, dirty carpet and the air pervaded with remnant smell of cigs intermixed with takeout Lo Mein and rubbing alcohol. It was not malodorous but disarmingly pleasant and added a dimension to the experience. There, within the confines of those ratty, dingy emporiums held the world for this 12 year old. I feasted my eyes on the spectacle on display, oversized cartons. splashed with vibrant colors. These stores were purveyors of irredeemable filth aplenty and it was so good imbibing every cover art. Titles like Color me Blood Red, Emmanuel 3, Alien Prey, Maniac, Eddie Murphy Raw, Cannibal Holocaust and my favorite Zombi 2! There was a section directly across from all this that was incredulously filled with gay porn, I knew I shouldn't glance over that section but did and saw indescribable things. Then the chains came along with their expansive antiseptic outlets featuring generic selections, no longer the charm of the grubby low culture flicks. I miss those days...

As a film major, one of my current classes is specifically about Francis Coppola. You would not believe the trouble that we as students have had to go through to try and "stream" or find each film for the class. I noticed the quick shot of your Coppola/Zoetrope collection and given you are San Francisco based that makes a lot of sense but I am sure you enjoy his work as well. The thought that comes to mind though is that streaming has completely dismantled the "library" effect of films and also the discovery of new cinema/releases as well. Since video rentals have went south I haven't kept up with new releases since, so years and years worth of films that took as you state "great amounts of work to put together" get completely overlooked and undiscovered because in my opinion the whole system is broken, unless you just enjoy Marvel movies or what not, as these current heavy hitters bring the advertisements and gossip these days to drive interest. There is so much more to cinema than what is being pushed today and it is a shame that younger generations won't experience or will soon be stripped from the access of auteur directors and different visions and approaches to film as art both in larger or smaller productions. As a kid growing up I used to love going to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video and I would seek out my weekend rentals that normally consisted of one newer film, one small budget B film, and then something unusual like an anime. I think it is imperative that people like yourself continue to fight to keep access to such a wide variety and archives of films available to the public, streaming may be convenient to some degree but like you said, you can't stream everything...not even close, and you lose that personal connection with very knowledgeable staff like yourself to help you find awesome films to watch. Much love from a film student in Oklahoma :)

I miss the days of these rental stores. I still love and buy the physical media and build my own collection at home - even the VHS tapes. But these stores were great.

This is an amazing store and an awesome gem in Noe Valley. -So glad you are out there, Collin!!!

I miss working at Blockbuster a lot. A place like this would be heaven to me.

Badass. I'm so glad my small town has a video store as well. Gotta keep em alive!

When I lived in SF in the 1990s there was a great rental store in the Mission called Leather Tongue Video. A very unique catalog of movies. I miss the human connection and conversations in the rental stores.

Banned from trivia because you are good is an honor.

Coming to meet h soon and buy a membership!! I’m from NYC and moved here in December:) Thank you 🙏 for keeping movie’s alive!!! 💖

nothing better then a video store Keep it up!!!

So many movies that are only available on VHS and Beta, and some who are only available on DVD.

Thank you for keeping our love of film 🎥 Alive, I’m from Spokane Washington

I love seeing a store like this still around. I worked at a mom & pop video store from 1989-1993 that was the most popular in my town until a big chain store came calling (there were several smaller stores besides ours then including convience stores that rented movies). After the chain came to town it was only us and them left standing. Now it's the competition from steaming stores have to deal with. Our town (i still live in the same one in Northwestern Pennslyvania) today has no video stores left. But myself i have my own private video store constisting of over 25,000 titles (4k, Blu ray, DVD, and some VHS) as well as tons of posters and other movie collectibles. Can't take away what i love. I wish the best for Video Wave in the future and if only we had something like this in our town i'd go there to give my support.

Thats so awesome 👌

Appreciate your passion, Your store is a relic.

Way cool! Hope you are there forever. Amazed you can stay open but so happy you are. Customer service. In 2023! 😃

Right on Colin! Keep old school alive! I miss video stores so much that thrill you get of hoping somebody did not rent that game or video that you desperately wanted is a feeling that you can’t describe! Let alone the interactions with other people definitely something Netflix, HULU or anything else can’t beat ! I hope someday they start to resurface again I mean who knows they still make flip phones it is possible!! ❤😊

I’ve walked by this store but didn’t know it was so cool!! I’ll definitely check it out now :)

Totally wish I could go get a membership. So many happy memories in the ol’ corner video store.

Amazing

Pause the video and try to find a few titles you see on streaming…streaming has a serious inventory problem no one will discuss.

been going to video wave since the VHS era. Many memories of this place. As a young kid my dad asked if I wanted to rent a barney video, but I was interested in seeing "platoon"

Really like what he's about & I hope he can continue on, for a long time, but having insight into the small business side of things in San Francisco, it's rough. And I couldn't even imagine trying to survive through the pandemic. Jeez....

Rock on Colin!

I want to open a video store but only VHS and Beta not that new fangled DVD stuff

Streaming has taken the special out of movie watching 🙁

COLLIN!

I so sick of streaming services high prices.

How much does he charge? How do they stay in business??

I would visit this guy's store 3 times a week if Iived there. Streaming just doesn't compare to the store and physical experience.

Ugh, as much as I like streaming services, there's just something about video stores especially as a kid. Even if you don't intend on hiring, you still browse through the DVDs/Video Games anyway.

Imagine getting banned for being so knowledgeable. I myself love going to Trivia Nights yet there are other people/teams miles ahead of me. Do I think they should be banned? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Wow... this guy is the spitting image of Tarantino... if u cut back the hair and lost a few pounds... maybe ur related ;) Keep up the good work buddy... the world needs more people like u. I'll leave u my VHS colllection (about 50 cassettes) in my will ;)