The great movie site Hammer to Nail has posted a call-to-arms for cinephiles in NYC to save local video rental store Cinema Nolita by supporting the creative and awesome endeavors of its Video Store Girl Eleonore Hendricks. Eleonore says, ‘Really, our first idea was to just make sure that we didn’t have to sell the collection off individually, to make back the money we had lost by not being able to pay the rent… The goal is to make the 8,000 dollars so we can pay our back rent so we don’t have to use the videos as collateral. Once we have that back rent, we have various ideas about how to keep Cinema Nolita as a neighborhood presence.’
(A Video Store Girl, in case you were wondering is ‘a down-ass chick who can crack a dirty joke but also smooth-talk a meiser into paying his late fees — and checking out ten more titles.’)
I will shamefully admit I haven’t been to Cinema Nolita in ages (I have my own indie video rental store about two blocks away from my apartment), and I do love Netflix, but you cannot deny the lure of the indie video store — the perfect place to pop in on a rainy day after work for a pick-me-up or to stop by late at night when you and your honey want to stay in — and their numbers are dwindling. CN also offers screenings and other cool events.
Eleonore has taken it upon herself to try and save Cinema Nolita with a wild variety of activities in NYC, like a special showing of Abel Ferrara’s Bad Lieutenant hosted by Mr. Ferrara himself. And Santos Party House, the home of Boy Du Jour Andrew WK and his cohorts, is also hosting a shindig with all profits going to Cinema Nolita.
Here’s to badass Video Store Girls and Boys, their impressive knowledge of all things on the big screen, and to Eleonore for her DIY mentality that will save a neighborhood fave!
(Image courtesy of Yelp.)
— Jenni Miller
