Dawn Warfield, owner of the Drive-In Movie Store, called today to tell me she has renewed her lease at 170 S. Broadway, contrary to what she said was some talk about town that she might be shuttering her doors. "We'll be around for at least two more years," she said. The video rental shop has been in business for 18 years, and last year it survived the repaving and road construction of South Broadway, which caused many businesses to take a huge hit. Warfield said the store saw an immediate 30 percent drop in business the first month of the road work, in April 2008. The store ended the year by climbing halfway out of that hole.
"We didn't fully recover ... (but) things are starting to pick up a little bit," Warfield said. In 18 years, Warfield said the biggest change to the business is the switch from VHS tapes to DVDs. About six months ago, the store started what Warfield calls its biggest niche -- buying back used DVDs for cash ($1 or $2) or store credit. The store then sells the DVDs for $4.95.

"Especially with the bad economy, a lot of people are selling everything just to clean out their closets and make some money," she said.

It's super important to support local businesses, even as consumers face tough economic times, she added.

She plans an 18-year anniversary sale event this July, so update your list of Movies To See Before You Die and get ready to check a few off it.


Photo credit: Rick Gargiulo/The Saratogian