In the late 80's when I was in high school 8th Street Video was the joint! It used to be on 8th street, but then it moved to 9th street, hence the name change. The funny name seemed indicative of the owner's sense of humor. His name was Steve. I haven't lived in Duluth for years and haven't been back there in almost 20 years but he was a great guy. I think his dad might have worked there or owned it with him. He'd get pissed if you kept movies past their due date, but he had good suggestions and good jokes. And - I remember that he used duct tape for cuts on his fingers rather than employing a band-aid.

Steve had an *amazing* memory too, I remember. He was such a character!

So many memories of this place.  As a little kid one of my best pals lived right across the street.  Then in later years us dorks would spend our weekends going in and out of there renting stuff.  One of my favorite quotes would be when asking Steve which movie is good and he would retort (always) with "They're all good."  Another pal drew a bunch of cartoony stuff of Steve that would be posted on the walls for free movies.  Part of me wonders if that stuff is still there.

Sad that it's closing, but Netflix (progress) will do that.

I was debating posting something about this.  I think that they probably sell more rentals, but that Ice Cream is probably a higher margin item for them in terms of profits.  I'm not exactly sure why they want to sell, but it has got to be that it wasn't profitable.  The primary reason that a business exists to make money and not to be a cool neighborhood store.  I have trouble remembering that often.  

They are keeping the somewhat larger store on 47th Ave E.  My guess is that place will continue to do well for some time.  Good location next to Portman and Sammy's Pizza, with lots of nice conscientious people nearby, sure to eventually return their videos even if they've racked up a few of those lucrative "late fees."  However, Netflix is a juggernaut that has brought Blockbuster and other national chains like Hollywood Video into bankruptcy; make no mistake that it is also out to capture the business of every single mom and pop video store in the United States, too. Red Box will end up with whatever is left.  So I think Danny is right, Netflix/Redbox is the culprit.  

I briefly had a flutter of thinking about moving in Speedy Wienie and maybe running the video side as loss leader like a cooperative/consignment store along the lines of Alonzo's or some such thing.  I think a locally owned video store is a terrible thing for a neighborhood to lose.  However, Mrs. Goose caught wind of this (it's almost like she can "smell" my cracked ideas) and she very quickly let me know that was an insane idea.  And it is.  But hey, if someone else wants to try it, you'll have a regular customer in me.  If not, I'm signing back up for Netflix (mmm ... Kool Aid.)

Steve made our dog Jake vice-president of Eighth Street Video. Any other canine execs I don't know about?

When I was 8 months pregnant and accidentally waddled into the XXX area (thought it was the bathroom). For some reason rather than walking out I rented a porno. Yeah, my boyfriend was real surprised when I got home with our night's cinema. Steve never, ever forgot that one.

The original owner's name is Steve Lichterman. His father, who some people have mentioned above, was Phil Lichterman. They were beloved characters in the old East/Central Hillside area because they worked every single day and knew every person who ever set foot in their store.

Prior to starting this place, they owned Peter Pan Dry Cleaners. My dad was brought his dry cleaning to them in the '60s and '70s. When I started going to their video store in the '80s, they knew who I was because of my last name. They actually remembered my dad who they hadn't seen in over 10 years. 

Steve sold the store sometime after Phil passed away. He did open a video store in Superior, and I assume he is still there.  He was a great guy though, and sorta looked out for all the kids in the hood. He would call our parents and get permission to rent us Rated R movies. He was responsible for me and my friends introduction to Horror and Raunchy cinema. If you read this Steve, thanks for the memories!

Here's another bit of Hillside trivia: Does anyone remember "Starvin' Marrvin's" or "Hiller's Critters"? They were both in the same location as the original 8th St. Video. Hiller's Critters was a pet store owned by a former player for the Detroit Tigers.

John Hiller owned Hiller's Critters.

Starvin Marvins was where VIP is.  I think it was a deli before that.

The neighborhood around Eighth Street and 19th Avenue East was once predominantly Jewish -- thus the deli and Taran's market. Also what is now the River Bornagain Church was once a Synagogue.

8th Street Video is now owned by Earl and Payton. It was once owned by Steve and his father Phil. Back in those days, it was a staple to the neighborhood. I have spent a great deal of time working the counter there. 

People who say that they went to Redbox because they didn't get the service they deserved are people with hollow viewpoints. This video store has always been a place where long time customers know that they can feel at home. We know the types of movies they like and we know the kind of people they are. Good people! 

The day that 8th Street Video closes will be a very sad day in East Hillside history. Anyway, Steve sold the store to Earl before Phil died. Steve later opened 2nd Street Video next to Presidents Liquor in Superior. Phil, Steve's father, passed a few years ago. As far as I know Steve still operates 2nd Street Video. 

8th Street Video is struggling these days but the community can change that. Stop by for a movie. Come get an ice cream cone or a malt! Steve would say that, "they're all good" and "12 out of 10 people said it was good."

"I switched to Netflix not only because of the 8.00 a month through my WII, but also because 90% of the dvds you rent skip like crazy. At least tapes ran until they broke. DVD's suck a__."

How old was your player? Or did you use a video game system to watch them? My friend had an old PS2 and Netflix DVDs constantly would skip on his player but not when I would play them on my new DVD player. Since he got an actual DVD player we've rarely had any problems with Netflix (I have pretty much never had any on my player). Ironically, when Mt. Royal Video Vision closed I rented some movies from them for nostalgic purposes. Two of the three skipped on mine AND my friend's players.

I worked for Steve at 8th St Video (on 9th St) for over four years after having been a long-time customer at his original 8th street and later 9th street store. I'm sorry to hear that Phil is no longer with us... his father was remarkable and used to bring us donuts and fudge EVERY single day (as if any of us were anorexic and needed more goodies...)

Steve was and is one of the most fair people I've ever met. He undercharged for every movie just so he could keep his base price at 98 cents for members (who usually got a "1-year" membership that lasted for 18 months to 2 years!) and 1.98 for non-members before tax... this was part of the "everything is 8" process that he believed in. Members usually paid $1 even though it was supposed to be $1.05 with tax. Non-members were charged $2 even though it was supposed to be $2.02 with tax. Even if you "knew a guy who knew a guy who was a member" you often got the member price if you were polite. :)

I left Duluth in 1995 and haven't talked with Steve since probably 2000 when he sold the store to our then "vice president" Sullivan family. "Earl Sullivan, Inc... mostly red ink," Earl would say. I think I'll call Steve at the Superior store tomorrow to catch up.

Common recommendations: Valmont, House of Whipcord, and a few others... it doesn't matter what you rent though, as they're all good movies. You should have seen some of the "notes" in people's account profile... hilarious. He loved his customers.

...and he would remember the names of nearly everyone that walked through the door; even if they only stopped by once every 5 years.