Knowing Your Neighbors: Video Vision

TWIN PORTS —

A visit to Video Vision is like returning to the past.

As it should be – they’ve been open for 34 years!

“We started in 1983,” says owner Brian Augustine.  “We were up to six video stores at one time.”

Augustine says the secret to keeping a video store open so long is evolution.

Even in the age of the internet and streaming video, they haven’t actually fallen behind the times.

“We started out renting VHS tapes, Atari and Intellivision video games, we went through the DVD change, and then the Blu Ray change,” Augustine explains.

And with a store in Duluth and Superior, Video Vision remains the only local option to rent movies or video games.

“We competed against every major Wall Street-funded chain on the planet,” Augustine said.  “They’re all gone and we’re still here!”

Manager Amy Sipola says the family atmosphere an independent business provides has allowed the stores to remain open and popular.

She’s been with the company for more than 30 years.

“So I’ve watched babies grow up to have their own babies and they’re renting here, and the grandparents are still coming in, so I’ve gotten to know a lot of families,” Sipola said.

Augustine has also watched his customers grow up before his eyes.

“Customers coming in now were youngsters when we opened up and they just stuck with us that long,” he said.

The family atmosphere has given them a lot of loyal customers over the years.

But they make their money on the products they rent and sell.

And Brian Augustine knows that his store has that special quality you just don’t get on the internet.

“It’s a great place to come in and see a big array of movies rather than a computer screen or Red Box that has a very limited selection,” he said.

From tapes to DVDs to Blu Ray; from Atari to Nintendo to Sony Playstation; the business model at Video Vision hasn’t changed all that much.

But now they provide something a bit more unique: that nostalgic feeling of being in a video store, something that nowadays you can’t get anywhere else.

Video Vision has two locations, one at 215 N Central Avenue in Duluth, the other at 1418 Belknap Street in Superior.

They also offer tanning beds, in addition to the movies and video games available.