Network Video Mooroolbark set to close after three decades

ONE of Melbourne’s few remaining video stores has finally “admitted defeat” at the hands of digital media and theft and will close after more than three decades — but it’s not the same story for another nearby shop.

Network Video’s Peta Roberts and Val Kildea are sad to see the Mooroolbark shop close. Picture: David Crosling

ONE of the outer east’s last remaining video stores has admitted defeat at the hands of digital media and theft, and will close this month after more than three decades.

But another Yarra Valley video store is bucking the trend, signing up dozens of new members a month.

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

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Network Video Mooroolbark will close on January 20, with a post on the store’s Facebook page saying: “Very reluctantly we are now forced to admit defeat and succumb to the pressures from digital media, theft, and a whole host of other factors.”

Store co-manager Valerie Kildea said the store had “done everything we can to keep the business afloat” over the past three years, including moving to a smaller location at Mooroolbark Terrace, and cutting back on stock and staff hours.

But she said the operating cost could no longer be justified.

“It’s (closure) been in the wind for six months now,” she said.

“There’s been a bit of a downturn and we’ve resigned ourselves to that fact.

“The saddest part is we have had people who have been coming here for 20 years and now they don’t know what to do.”

Twelve months ago the shop was doing well, but Val Kidea and Peta Roberts say they have finally succumbed to the pressures of digital media. Picture: Steve Tanner

Ms Kildea, who has worked at the store for more than two decades, said she was sad to see digital viewing trends killing off video stores.

“People can’t just come in and browse in the store anymore and you are forced to know about computers,” she said.

“There is absolutely nothing left except Netflix, Foxtel, and illegal streaming, it’s really hard.”

Ms Kildea said she would retire following the shop’s closure and would miss interacting with customers.

The store is selling all of its stock, with DVDs from $4.50 and games from $5.

Video store lovers will have to travel to Yarra Junction’s Leading Edge to get their fix.

Owner Alison Dajlan said Network Video’s closure was “very sad for the area”.

But Ms Dajlan said her store had no plans to close “as long as we still have enough customers to keep us going and pay the bills”.

She said the store got about 10 new members a week, and she felt video stores still had a place in the current climate.

“It’s still a cheap form of entertainment for the family,” she said.

“It’s cheaper to get from a store than online and not everybody can afford internet access either.”