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Video Store Ghost Town

Submitted by TJ Southard on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 3:19pm.

Well Movie Gallery has become the latest victim of the eradication of storefront movie rentals. I personally haven't been there in years to rent. The one-two-three punch of Online Stores, Fios TV, and Apple TV has killed this store's customers. Since easier ways to rent are all grabbing for your movie rental dollar, the convenience of point, click and watch is the future of this industry. For the movie buff it's a dream come true, for the parent, it's a baby sitter on demand, for the teen it's instant party entertainment.... and for the Rental Store owner.... not such a pretty picture.

I wish who ever the owner was good luck and goodbye, and also being a Montclair consumer... I hope we get something else in its place that people will use. I personally would love another type of restaurant, or even a book store, something cultural and low tech. I just don't want it to sit vacant like the other video store casualty on 234

What would you like to see in its place?

Cheers - TJ

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A better shop...
Submitted by Chris Casey on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 7:02pm.

I haven't set foot in a video store for years either. NetFlix brought an end to them for me. Time flies, I used to drive all the way up to Hollywood Video on the Parkway to rent a movie, and then when OUR Movie Gallery opened... wow, it was so close by! Not that I still didn't rack up the late fees. I can remember also renting my first DVD at Movie Gallery, back when they had a single case dedicated to them (Stir of Echos w/Kevin Bacon - good flick).

The other night I did my first 'On Demand' rental via FiOS, and I'll soon try renting from Apple's iTunes store to see how it compares. I'm not sure if either of them will be a NetFlix killer or not. I can imagine telling my future grandkids, "I used to wait for movie rentals on DVD to come in the mail"!

So, what should go there. Let's remember first what's already been tried and failed at our Lake Montclair Center... coffee shop, smoothie shop, dollar store. I would love a book store, but obviously it couldn't be something to complete with a Border's or Barnes & Noble. It would have to be something small and cool. I would love a used book store like C&W Used Books.

Or maybe it's time for Del Taco to finally extend their reach into the mid-Atlantic. I would LOVE that!

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a better shop part ii
Submitted by jasonk on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 4:28pm.

Del Taco, eh? Never been, but looks tasty. I'd definitely be a regular patron of Baja Fresh if they could be lured this way!

My number one wish would be for a thai restaurant. I wonder if we could talk the Siam Bistro people into opening a location here and save me the drive out to Lake Ridge:
Siam Bistro

Thai food ruined chinese for me years ago. One of the worst things about moving to PWC for me has been no easy access to good thai.

Ever since I saw the sign in the dollar store window, I've been thinking about opening a soccer specialty store in that location. PWSI is just up the street, plus there are several large tournaments here each year. Anybody need cleats?

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Another Restaurant in Lake Montclair Center
Submitted by Carolee13 on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 11:17am.

Or a Chipotle would be fantastic! But with the fabulous Mateo already there I don't think another Tex/Mex would work. We already have several restaurants there of all types and it would be nice to add another; we'd have a great selection right in our neighborhood. Maybe an Indian like Taste of Tandoor, or a barbecue like Dixie Bones. Definitely a Thai like Siam Bistro, which I agree is the best Thai. If you haven't tried Pondfah though, check it out. It's really good, the new owners (I think it was called something else under the previous owners) have made it so much better. But what I'd love to see the most in the Center is a Pho restaurant like Saigon 75 (the best place outside of Pho 75 in Arlington).

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Netflix vs. On Demand Rentals
Submitted by Chris Casey on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 12:22pm.

I decided to do the math and answer my own question of whether new On Demand rental options from FiOS or Apple are likely to replace Netflix as my movie rental option of choice, and I wrote about the outcome in my blog.

Bottom line was, Netflix wins.

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Something We Can Support...
Submitted by mcconnellsts on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 2:02pm.

With the proliferation of the mini-shopping areas, it has to be something that our community will support. Target, Shoppers, 5 Guys, etc…has taken a lot of business away from our mini mall…we’ve seen a few stores come and go…don’t forget the ABC store…that’s one that I’m glad to see gone…but others just didn’t get the support and business of our residents. Food, I think we have enough already…we need to keep those supported as they are…but we do need a strong business to compete with the soon to be developed Ashland mini-mall.

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Ashland Square
Submitted by TGBWC on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 8:42pm.

I don't know how soon the Ashland center will be built. I think the developer is having a hard time getting tenants. I had heard they were waiting for 234 and Spriggs to be finished. Now maybe they are waiting since the real estate market/economy is down???

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no tenants?
Submitted by jasonk on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 12:44pm.

That's really amazing. I don't understand the way they're allowed to go about building and deserting strip malls in Prince William County.

I was driving down Liberia Ave in Manassas yesterday and was amazed to see they were building two more strip malls on a street pretty much lined with nothing but strip malls already.

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Well, I miss them....
Submitted by TJ Southard on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 3:23pm.

I for one miss the ABC store... I like parties, WooHoo!

Thats one for thought... We need a good Bar. The pub, their drink sizes are pretty good but the atmosphere has a lot to be desired. Maybe have a dance floor, no, no... a runway with some lights, music and brass poles. And maybe we could have some people dancing... I wonder what type of bar that could be?

of course I'm kidding (wink)

Tj -

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Mr. TJ, You're not referring
Submitted by pvigliano on Thu, 02/14/2008 - 6:59pm.

Mr. TJ,

You're not referring to a strip club are you?

I didn't thing so.

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