The Best Video Stores in Toronto
There's a certain kind of loyalty we reserve for our local video store. Mine is of the raging soccer mom kind - that obnoxious breed who through thick or thin will stand along the sidelines shouting Mine is better than yours! louder than the rest.
The way I see it, the independent video store is a neighborhood staple - as essential as the corner market, the laundromat and the coffee shop. If you're lucky enough to have all four within walking distance from home, why ever consider moving?
In our recent Best of Toronto survey, we asked readers to choose Toronto's Best Independent Video Store. The results are in and we've narrowed it down to 10 worthy establishments. Leading the pack is none other than the granddaddy of them all - Queen Video. After nearly three decades of nurturing the eclectic palates of Toronto cinefiles, Queen Video boasts three successful locations and the second largest video collection in the world.
Top Right Photo: "Queen Video @ Night" by blogTO Flickr pooler frigante
Queen Video
With 75,000 titles to choose from, Queen Video is the Mecca for movie seekers and pop culture mavens. Looking for the 1st season of The Cosby Show? You'll find it here along with the cheapest box set rentals in the city.
Suspect Video
Unrivaled in its collection of the perverse and oddball, Suspect Video has just about something for everyone, from the blockbusters for mom, action figures for Timmy to the Eurosleaze for grandpa. More...
The Film Buff
Both East and West enders can enjoy a sinful selection of gourmet desserts while perusing The Film Buff's impressive collection of rare, foreign and Criterion films. More...
Black Dog Video
Originating in Vancouver, Black Dog Video is located on Queen West where it now serves I Deal Coffee. A gorgeous, well organized store with a revolving collection of local artwork.
Bay Street Video
Bay Street Video carries the largest DVD collection in Toronto available for rent and sale. What the store lacks in ambience is made up for in its uber organized displays. Flip frames all the way. More...
Marquee Video
This boutique video store offers a fine collection of rare titles, foreign flicks, TV box sets, docs, Criterion films, and graphic novels. If you're low on funds, skip the ice cream or espresso and opt for a complimentary bag of popcorn. More...
Big Daddy's DVD Shop
Serving organic beverages and wholesome snacks, Big Daddy's is where Junction locals go to get their indie movie fix.
Ammo Video
Going strong for over two decades, Ammo Video carries rare and mainstream films plus a massive offering of the classics. Can't find what you're looking for? Just ask, they'll happily order it in for you.
Film Fest DVD Rentals
This dog-friendly establishment is located at the pulse of Yonge & Eglinton. It carries the whole gamut, including a sizable collection of cult and horror flicks.
The Little Video Shop
It may be little, but this Baldwin Village favourite carries 6,000 titles and serves delicious gelato to boot. More...
Comments (27)
The best thing about Queen Video is that they never have what you want to rent so you're forced to rent something you've been meaning to see for years but never got around to it.
I mean that in a good way, but also in a bad way. New Releases are consistently OUT for months. I don't know if it's because everyone else is reserving them or if it's just bad timing but it is very frustrating.
but yes, that's where I rent my movies.
Shame about Suspect burning down. Never got there myself, but I know my fair share of Queen West folks who swore by it.
Matt - you can ask put your name on a waiting list for a specific movie and they will call you when it comes in.
It's not technically a Toronto place -- or a video store -- but I vote for Zip.ca. They have pretty much any DVD you can think of, and they mail them right to your house. Perfect for lazy bums such as myself.
My favorite place is Vintage Video in Mirvish village. John is real nice and knowledgeable about videos. The store only sells vintage films. No renting. Check it out for the nice interior. His selection isn't as large as Bay St. Video, but it's got lots of character and a nice place to shop for classic videos of all kinds. I just moved to Winnipeg and dearly miss that store.
If you live midtown i FULLY recommend going to 'DVD Film Fest'on Eglinton and Duplex (one West of Yonge).
They have amazing selection! and really nice categorization by generes, directors, countries, etc.
Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
They also take requests if you don't find what you are looking for.
vintage video is the worst store ever. the mark up on dvds is inane and insane. the owner was a really mean person as well. he basically told me leave...it was nuts
OH! You mean the $50 OOP (aka Pirated/Illegal) VHS Tapes?
Make sure you look out for the "DO NOT TOUCH" signs, they will getcha.
Store is a joke, just hop across to Suspect if you want rare items at human being pricing.
Sonic Boom on Bloor has a great used DVD section, good new music dvds and an OK selection for other New DVD's.
OHH MANNNNN.. 100% true about vintage video.. the prices were RIDICULOUS.. The pirated crap in there was priced at like $10000 and the old man was such a jerk.. my buddy walked in with a bag, and the old man told him in a rude manner to be careful.. i hate that store.. i want everyone to know my hatred for VINTAGE VIDEO.. CUZ IT IS HORRIBLE!!! go there just to laugh at the prices and the old horrible man.. cuz it sucks.. sorry !!suspect was great though
Wow, I am not alone on Vintage video. Trish and James nailed it right on the head, and your posts are from today! I went there this weekend and had VERY similar experiences.
The owner refused to sell things to me and goods were labeled improperly (out of print stickers were on things that WERE NOT out of print, items with Import stickers on them WERE NOT I REPEAT were not out of North America Imports.) He had some cool stuff, but it was just riddled with DO NOT TOUCH signs and he eyed me like a wild hawk preying on his blood meal. I felt really uncomfortable. I am never going back.
I think I was look down upon because of my age. Just because i'm 25, does not mean I am an idiot...I sure was treated like one!
Too bad about Vintage. I remember going there a few times but never bought anything due to price. I have been going to a place called Film Fiends on College, tons and tons of really cool used DVDs, they only sell DVDs though. You can save a lot from buying new. I got a copy of Fulci's Beyond for $30. I couldn't find that anywhere! It'll take you about an hour to go thru their stock.
Bay St. Video is the most sterile, boring store I've ever shopped. I would as soon have Christmas dinner in a 7-11, which has considerably more charm.
The uppity staff, including the owner, like to pretend they are more intelligent than their customers, which begs the question, "Why are such geniuses "working" in a video rental store?
That 24-7 and More dump on Church St. has employees of similar attitude, but not nearly as good a selection as Bay St. Video (if you consider Bay St.'s numerous defective disks part of that selection).
I once told 24-7 and More that a disk didn't work, and the thmartie-pansths answered: "Well, you could always rent it, again, and see if it works."
What IS it about video store employees? Are they all Cinema Studies failures? Too dumb to make french-fries? Raised by their aunties? Why the big chip? Because they're doing a job that requires about as much intelligence as wetting the bed?
To hell with THEM ALL! Very soon, there will be so much pay-per-view (on your PC!) they'll be looking for work in an equally lunkheaded "vocation" -- selling basketballs to munchkins.
ditto about vintage video. Its amazing that anyone actually buys anything there. the owner is rudest person in retail
All great stores in the list for sure! Black Dog and 2Q on Queen are awesome! You should also check out MovieXpress in King West village (King and Shaw): http://www.kingwestxpress.com
It's automated, and once a member - you have 24 HOUR access to cheap DVDs (starting at $2.50!). They also rent the Nintendo Wii console, Guitar Hero and Wii Fit!
Check em out!
s.
I second the vote for MovieXpress at King and Shaw! Cheap, open 24 hours, and the dude that works there really knows his stuff... he's good at pickin just the right movie to fit your mood. You can also browse the whole library from the internet and reserve online!!
MOVIEXPRESS ALL THE WAY!
-Jilly
Hey - don't forget Videoflicks - one of the oldest video stores in the city! Thousands of movies on 2 floors...great rental packages - 5 for $10 for a week!!
Check out www.myvideoflicks.ca ..
Film Fest near Yonge and Eglinton is the best video store in the city, hands down. I've sworn off Queen Video - the staff is snotty, the music pretentious, and so many of the film cases depict explicitly misogynist imagery.
I have to agree with you people about vintage video. I was there yesterday and got the staredown like I was trying to steal something... like I'd really want to steal something from their rare collection of nazi movies. I was going to ask about a few things, but then this big black dog woke up off a couch and started barking at me. I decided it was time to leave and I was basically followed to the door on my way out.. just to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. Stores like that should not exist. They should close up shop and use the place as a homeless shelter or something.
i would like to know if you have these western movies on vhs.
yellow sky/gregory peck
black patch/george montgomery
gun jewel in durango/george montgomery
johnny yuma/mark damon
outlaw/jack beutel
hunting party/oliver reed
Hello Allan. V.S.E. here (Video Store Employee). Just like any other job where you don't own the business, we are payed by a boss to enforce the rental rules he or she has set in place. In your case the problem was with a disc that wouldn't play. The rule at the store you mentioned is that if a customer has a problem with a disc and the stores has another copy then they rent you the alternate copy. If it is the only copy then it is checked in the player in the back and if it doesn't play then you are issued a credit. The logic behind this is that many people have players that are on the fritz or may be extra sensitive to even the smallest surface scratch on the disc. This means that many rental discs will not play if you have a sensitive or dying player. It also curbs complaints from people who simply didn't like the movie they watched and who make up a problem with it to get another free rental. This may not be you, but it does happen. If you have an issue with the checking or credit process then perhaps it would be in your best interests to discuss it with the owner instead of assuming the employees are idiots. It is people like you who are unable to disconnect the individual from the task that make the individuals dread seeing you walk through the doors.
P.S. The name of the store is 7-24 Movies & More, not 24-7 you blazing idiot. Reading a sign is as easy as pissing a bed!
What sucks about the East York area (Donforth, Pape, Broadview, etc) is there is not a single decent privately owned video store in this entire region! I've been reduced to renting "Kill Bill" from Asian Mom & Pop stores which sell a 'little bit of everything'. You know the stores: they sell 99 cent mops in the proverbial barrel. washing machines. can of oil. sardines. etc. and a few mainstream DVDs.
Jesus freakin' christ!!!!!!
Do I have to trapse all the way to Queen West just to rent an artsy fartsy or otherwise non-mainstream video!? What a pain in the ass.
While I'm on a roll I want to warn other poor unfortunates in my rather dull neck 'o' the woods (East York) to NOT rent videos from the video rental place at Pape and Floyd (Next to TD bank branch). Rude, shit service from grumpy old lady! I rented Kill Bill 2 from them....DVD was scratched and wouldn't play...I return video and lady would not give me in-store credit or refund. Nice.
Mr. Movie is great! Its website is out-of-date but there's one in the Merchandise Building on Mutual St. It's small and the selection may not be as great as Queen or Suspect, but they've got some indie discs and the staff is super friendly.
By far the friendliest and most knowledgeable is the staff/owner at West Side Stories...Dundas/Dufferin...if you want information without the attitude...
The Little Video Shop on Baldwin is a treat for film lovers. Not only is owner and a fantastically generous and knowledgeable lady but she also knows everyone's name...including her customers pets!
The selection of films is fantastic and she will always be able to point you to some obscure gem. There are regular deals for documentaries and foreign films. She has sells a mean ice-cream :)
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