My long time adult video store is closing its doors at the end of this month.

They had a great selection and the staff were very friendly and got to know the regular patrons by name.  I discovered this place in the mid 90's as it was near where I worked at the time and I stopped in as many as 2-3 times a week to rent the latest new releases and to catch up on some videos I hadn't seen yet.  It was easy as it was not far from my office so the rent and return procedure was convenient.  I remember in the early days of going there, men (and sometimes women) were constantly coming in.  I'd always give a quick glance at anyone entering for fear it was someone from my office.  There was good conversation with the staff and never once did I feel uncomfortable.  Once in a while they would even have guest celebrites come in for signings.  I met the likes of Jenna Jameson, Christy Canyon, Stephanie Swift and Dyanna Lauren at this place.  Though they haven't done this in years.

Alot of nice memories there...

Eventually I changed job locations in 2002 and stopping in became more difficult.  But I still managing to swing in about once or twice a month when the urge hit me.  The staff never forgot my name and were always pleased to see me.

Then I moved, which made it even harder to stop in.  6 months at a clip would pass before I would make a stop.  Once again the familiar faces never forgot me.  But with each visit over the last 7 years I noticed that place was less busy.  The selection, a little less.

Of course during this time, the instant gratification of internet porn sites made me come in less and less as well.  But I would try to stop in from time to time to rent some old classics from the 80's and 90's that are a little harder to find online.

I stopped in last January where I browsed and chatted with the staff for more than hour before renting.  Not a single soul entered the store the entire time I was there.  The walls were looking even less stocked too.

On a whim I stopped in earlier this week and to my chagrin half the store was empty and cleared of stock, the rest of the stock was marked for clearance.  Once again, I was the only customer in the store at a time of day that used to be prime business.

I asked the owner what had happened and he said the rents were too high and the business too slow.  The internet and the economy had hit them hard, and that coupled with rising rents on Long Island he could just not afford to stay open any longer.  I expressed how saddened I was to hear this and expressed regret at how much my patronage had dropped off in recent years.  He smiled and laughed (as though my business would have kept them open).  He said he would move if he could find a place with cheaper rent, but that was difficult, and any place that was affordable didn't want an adult store in their community.

I shopped around the store for bit, browsing the limited stock and bought a handful of DVD's, not necessarily because I wanted to.  I guess I just felt I should.

I shook the owners hand and said I would try to stop in again before he shut his doors at the end of the month.  I think I will actually try to do this, but I can't know for sure.

I know times are different, and even tough.  I, as much as anybody, have less disposable income for this type of entertainment and understand why we all cut back.

There is a large portion of the population that will be pleased by the closures of these establishments.  But this saddens me.  

Just thought I'd share...