Movies, groceries and more

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
NEW LOCATION — Shiretown Video Variety recently moved into a new, expanded storefront just a few doors down from its previous location in Market Square. Owned and operated by Steve Rogers, Shiretown Video Variety features movie and video game rentals, repairs and an expanded line of grocery items.
Shiretown Video Variety moves to new location
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Location is everything when it comes to a business’ success or failure. And moving to a new location can be a high-risk, high-reward proposition.
    For Steve Rogers, owner of Shiretown Video Variety, moving just a couple of doors down on Main Street has resulted in the latter as in just a few short weeks he has already witnessed a big spike in his business.
    “This is my third – and last – location,” Rogers said. “We have gone from a really small location to a huge location. I wanted a bigger store, but wasn’t sure it would ever happen. When this spot became available, the landlord approached me and asked if I was interested.”
    The relocation process went remarkably smooth, Rogers said. The complete move took just a couple of weeks, allowing Rogers to renovate his new location to make it brighter and more accessible for customers.
    “I only moved five doors down the street, but with that move alone we received 50 new accounts,” he said. “The response has been tremendous. I think people did not think I had that many movies before because the location was so small.”
    Interestingly, Rogers’ business has been located in two former video rental locations. His previous site, at 41 Market Square near the corner of Main and Court streets, once served as Shiretown T.V., which rented videos long before the invention of DVDs.
    His new location, 25 Market Square was most recently the site of Beals Variety, but back in the late 1980s-early ‘90s, it was home to Video Plus, the town’s other video rental store.
    Rogers said Saturday, Sunday and Monday are the big nights for movie rentals. New releases come out every Tuesday. Shiretown Video Variety also has an extensive line of holiday movies, which Rogers recently added to the shelves.
    With the closure of Movie Gallery in Houlton a few months ago, Shiretown Video Variety is now one of just a handful of locations to rent movies in the Shiretown. He has roughly 1,800 members registered to rent movies.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
MOVIES GALORE — Shiretown Video Variety owner Steve Rogers organizes one of the many racks of movies found at his new, expanded location.
     All movies rentals are $2 for both DVD and Blu-ray discs for one night. Each additional night is an extra $1. Television series and game rentals are $3 per day with an extra dollar for each additional night. Older movies are available for sale for $2. He also buys used movies, video games and video game systems.
    “One thing that I offer for rent that other locations in town don’t offer is television series,” Rogers said. “When you rent a television season from me, you get the whole entire season, not just one or two discs. Blu-ray hasn’t really caught on all that much up here yet, but it will and we have a really big selection.”
    Rogers runs Shiretown Video Variety with his family.
    “The good thing is, I have a big family,” he said.
    Rogers said he has not seen a decrease in business with the advent of movies “on-demand” or downloaded from online sites.
    “I think people like personal service,” he said. “They like the experience of getting out and coming to the movie store to look at all the movies, to talk about them and get suggestions on shows to watch. Customer service is the top priority.”
    Rogers first opened Shiretown Video five years ago on Smyrna Street.
    “I got started in the business because I had a tremendous personal collection of movies,” he said. “I always wanted to open my own movie store. I have been buying movies for years and when the opportunity came up, I started up.”
    With the move, Rogers was able to not only expand the number of movies available for rent or purchase, he was also able to add a larger line of groceries items, such as bread, canned goods and milk products to go along with the traditional movie-going items of chips and sodas.
    Additional expansion plans are also in the works. Rogers said he plans to install a kitchen area in the rear of the store to include sandwiches, salads and subs, along with steamed hot dogs. Rogers said he was searching for an old-fashioned popcorn machine as well.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
KEEPING IT COOL — Beverages are but  few of the extras available at Shiretown Video Variety.
     There is also a game area that will feature an air hockey table, pinball machines and a pool table.
    Shiretown Video Variety also offers DVD, music CDs and video game disc repairs and transfers home movies from VHS tape, 35-millimeter and 8-millimeter films to DVD. Used movies and games are also for sale at bargain prices.
    Gift cards are available at the store, which is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rogers said he would be open Thanksgiving and Christmas days. For more information, call 532-1002.