Mooroolbark’s Network Video is one of Melbourne’s last surviving video stores

IT might seem like a blast from the past, but borrowing movies is just as popular as ever at one of Melbourne’s last remaining video shops.

Val Kildea and Peta Roberts say The Network Video store in Mooroolbark is the last remaining video shop in Melbourne’s outer east. Picture: Steve Tanner

BORROWING videos is just as popular as ever at one of Melbourne’s last remaining video shops.

After the recent closure of Bayswater’s Video Busters, Mooroolbark’s Network Video manager Peta Roberts said the 30-year-old Bryce Ave shop was still afloat with many people hiring out popular television series.

The Bayswater shop will close next month after the level crossing removal works saw a huge drop in customers.

But Ms Roberts said people continued to borrow DVDs despite an increase in pay TV companies and piracy.

We’re OK, there are still a lot of people wanting to borrow,” Ms Roberts said.“We’re hoping to survive as long as possible.”

She said customers liked to browse for movies or wanted to watch something that was not available on pay TV.

“Everyone loves true stories and big action movies,” Ms Roberts said.

“All the younger kids like the icky horrors.”

She said Alfred Hitchcock’s were always favourites and classics like Singing in the Rain had become popular after actor Debbie Reynolds’ death.

“We have all the TV series and if you’ve missed one or two episodes you can come down and hire them,” Ms Roberts said.

She said remakes of old movies always brought the originals back in vogue.

“When there are remakes or a sequel or prequel, all the old movies get hired again,” Ms Roberts said.

“Everyone wants to see the original of Ben-Hur before they go and watch the remake.”