Video Store Day 2018: Yes, You Can Rent Videos In Washington

ENUMCLAW, WA - Chuckle if you want, Netflix subscriber, but there are still video rental stores around, and they are lots of fun. Saturday is international Independent Video Store Day, the perfect occasion to reacquaint yourself with physical media.

There are at least seven independent video stores between Bellingham and Enumclaw, including Scarecrow Video in Seattle, which has the nation's largest collection of physical movies (130,000 and growing). But there are also video stores in smaller cities around Puget Sound with cheerful clerks ready to recommend a new release or old favorite.

In Enumclaw, Kyle Elliott and her partner and co-owner, John Edlin, opened Enumclaw Video in 2012. Elliott worked for 12 years at the Enumclaw Blockbuster before she opened her own rental spot.

"When we opened we thought it would last maybe four to five years," she said.

The video rental business has worked well in Enumclaw, Elliott says, because there are plenty of rural areas nearby that don't have cable. Customers come in from as far as Greenwater to rent. She counts about 3,000 memberships in a city of about 12,000.

Enumclaw Video has actually expanded since it opened, and carries 30,000 DVDs (and some VHS) to rent or buy. Elliott has put her own spin on the rental concept. Part of her store is a pawn shop, so customers can, for example, rent "Avengers: Infinity War" and maybe pickup a new flat-screen TV to watch it on.

Asked which movies are the most popular right now, Elliott names new releases like "Ocean's 8" and "Solo: A Star Wars Story." But there are a couple of weird ones people keep renting, like the 1995 Damon Wayans comedy "Major Payne."

Elliot stays in the rental business not necessarily for the money, but because it's fun.

"Who's grouchy coming in to pick out a movie to watch with their family on the weekend or a weeknight? People are always excited to see what's new or to find the old one they can't get anywhere else," she says.

Stop by the video rental store nearest you on Saturday to enjoy rental deals, food, and more (not all local stores are participating in the day).

Washington Video Stores

Film Is Truth 24 Times A Second
1418 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham

The Video Store
293-305 WA-4, Cathlamet

Enumclaw Video
250 Roosevelt Ave., Enumclaw

Silver Lake Video
11014 19th Ave. SE #22, Everett

Saigon Music and Video
Great Wall Shopping Mall, 18230 E. Valley Hwy, Kent

Reckless Video
9020 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle

Scarecrow Video
5030 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle

Video Isle
4459 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle

Gameplay & Movie Central
13503 SE Mill Plain Boulevard, Vancouver

Outside Washington

Video Theater
1910 N Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Main Street Video Co-op
520 S Main St., Moscow, Idaho

Movie Madness Video
4320 SE Belmont St., Portland, Ore.

Great American Video & Espresso
6130 SE King Road, Milwaukie, Ore.

Just In Video
1738 Powell Blvd, Gresham, Ore.

Image courtesy Enumclaw Video