Movies To Go Owner: 'We're Going To Miss The People'

A home-cinematic era is going to come to an end next month in Lakewood.

Movies To Go, the place where generations of movie-watchers picked up their flicks, is scheduled to close its doors June 30.

For many in Lakewood, the store that Mike and Carol Umbehocker opened on Gravelly Lake Drive in 1987 was one of those spots people knew by heart. They've rented everything from "Friday the 13th" horrors to "Titanic"-esque love stories to flicks that made you laugh out loud.

Over 30 years, they opened stores in Tacoma, Federal Way and Lakewood, the biggest and the only one remaining.

But for Umbehockers, under whom countless people got their first jobs, the combination of wanting to spend more time with family and the emergence of DVD vending machines made this the right time to call it a wrap and retire.

"When the store closes I hope that all of our employees find other jobs that they enjoy," Carol Umbehocker told Patch. "We have a great crew of people that are fun to work around."

Still, Carol Umbehocker admits that she'll miss a lot of things about the store. (Click on the video to watch her interview with Patch.)

For now, the couple will be reminiscing with customers about the past three decades. They aren't renting any more movies - just selling them. The store is selling its massive DVD collection in everything-must-go fashion.

Umbehocker encourages customers to stop by, browse their selection and, of course, reminisce about the store. It's located at 9630 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW.