Lan Kwai Fong Movieland Shuts Its Doors

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Lan Kwai Fong Movieland Shuts Its Doors

Written by Steve on January 27, 2012

Lan Kwai Fong Movieland Shuts Its Doors

My old video store here in Hong Kong just closed and I’m feeling a little nostalgic. Throughout the late 1990’s the Movieland video store in Lan Kwai Fong was like my second home. Walking into that store I was like Norm walking into Cheers…everyone knew my name!

For those outside the territory, Lan Kwai Fong is perhaps the most infamous nightclub/ restaurant/ bar district in Hong Kong!

So of course that’s where we planted a church.

After an evening meeting, or just a night out for dinner and drinks, I’d stop off at Movieland to get my film for the night.

When I moved back to Hong Kong in 2009 I was surprised to see my old stomping ground was still open. I went up to see the old place and re-introduce myself. Turns out Elmer, the old manager I knew so well, had only recently returned home to the Philippines. Obviously the video store landscape has changed radically in the 10 years since I used to frequent the store and he probably felt it was time to wrap it up.

I mean who rents DVDs anymore??

The current manger was very kind and filled me in on what was happening admitting that business was slowing and they had consolidated the store from 2 floors to 1.

It was really kinda sad in a way. This store used to be jam packed every night with area folk getting their evening fix of movies and TV shows. It was a hub where you were always sure to run into a familiar face. When I had left back in 1999 the store was just beginning the transition from VHS to DVD. Now DVD was starting to feel like cassette tapes and the store, once the center of the action, now seemed like a party 30 minutes after all the cool people had left.

Well, tonight I was out for dinner in Lan Kwai Fong with friends and noticed the store was closed, empty, and dark but the sign was still hanging outside. The end had finally come. I snapped a few pictures to remember it from happier times!

3 comments

Bob
January 29, 2012

The one constant in life is change, Steve.

When I got married we spent some of our wedding gift cash on a VCR that had a wired remote control. The video store required a $50 deposit!

That was the last video recorder/player of any type that I knew how to work.

Time marches on.
Steve H.
January 29, 2012

Yeah Bob, I remember PAID memberships back when video stores first opened and a VHS movie to buy could be as high as US$ 80. Good bye video store!
Paul
January 30, 2012

I feel a song coming on: “Internet killed the video store…”

Farewell, Movieland, and thanks for the memories. And the Star Trek videos. (On VHS!)

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