Select Video

CLOSED.
Adiós, Select. It was always a fun time visiting you.

The selection here isn’t quite as esoteric as Specialty Video but they have good deals on rentals and you get movies for longer for the same amount of money so whenever I was looking for something not too far off of mainstream I’d head up here. Of course, I don’t live in Andersonville and I don’t make it up there at all anymore. Now here I am in Roscoe Village and there’s nothing like Select Video or Specialty Video in walking distance.
Probably my favorite part about going in there was the girl who worked the counter. I love how she seemed a little irritable but always very helpful. A nice change, in any event, from the irritating hipsters who often mar one’s visits to Specialty Video.

I don’t rent, I buy. Why, because I love movies. Yes, I will watch them again and again. No, I don’t think it’s a waist of money. Why, because it feeds my addiction. But at least with places like Select Video I don’t pay an arm and a leg, plus I generally get new releases shortly after coming out. It’s nice to be able to grab stuff for dinner at Edgewater Produce (next door) and then pick up a movie. The selection is pretty good and it seems like a good place for renters too.
The staff kind of gives me the heebie jeebies or at least one of the girls do. She kind of just stares at me, she doesn’t ever say anything and kind of grunts when I say goodbye. I try jokes and tripping over myself but nothing! I wonder if she is just annoyed that I keep asking to buy their box set of El Topo like every time I stop by. One of these days I will get her to crack a smile on that emo face or she’ll probably just stab me. However the other girl is very nice.
Oh and they have a back room for PORN and lots of it! Though I wouldn’t know because I’d never go back there… dirty wink, wink

They remember who I am!
I loved going to Select Video because Courtney always greeted us by name as soon as we’d walk in, was always helpful when we were looking for a certain movie and gave great recommendations. It’s the type of service I never got at the chain stores.
I do love their Classics section because there are a lot of them I’ve been meaning to watch — they even have a Directors area, if you have a favorite.
Yes, they do have an «Adult» backroom, which they don’t keep closed off and covered so you don’t have to feel ashamed & dirty to walk back there. I promise I won’t ever point & laugh if we’re there at the same time and neither will they.
Sadly, I’ve moved a little further away so I can’t make my my quick trip after grocery shopping at Edgewater produce but it’s still my favorite movie rental place in the neighborhood.

The selection of animated feature length films here makes me cry. Other than that, it’s a perfectly serviceable video store with friendly staff.

This place gets me.
Well, kinda sorta. It’s brand new, just opened next door to my favorite place to buy produce. I walked in late on a Sat, and no one was there except for a woman of south asian descent working the register. I quickly glossed over their regular rental selections. They have new releases, independents and a section for mature audience. (think Skinemax or HBO at 2am and a lil animé)
Upon walking into the Adult section, I was greeted by a poster of «Welcome to the Dollhouse». Oh yes. And what did they have in the center? A «Classics» section. Oh yes. And then the lady came to the back to check my ID to see if I was old enough to be in there. Oh yes. These are my kind of people.
It’s a nice size area, a little on the small side. They have your Vivid/​Adam & Eve/​Wicked as well as your Gonzo series/let’s pack 4 hours of hardcore fucking. It also looked like someone made a little shelf shrine to Jenna Jameson putting all her flicks together.
Adult Rentals are 3.50 for 3 days.
They have a 2.50 Tuesday special, but I’m not sure if that includes adult or not. If it does, then you’ll see here every day before hump day.
I have to edit to say that every time I had a hakerin’ to see a movie, they had it.
I felt like seeing «Waitress», finally… they had it… I wanted to get all krumped, so I asked if they had the documentary, «Rize»…and they did… in addition to «Beautiful Girls» which I’ve seen plenty of times, but after hearing Sweet Caroline at LBK I had to see again.

I rented movies from here for a year and I still can’t decide if I like the place. The store is pretty small, but they do have more independent stuff than most places.