Mercer Island Hollywood Video closes its doors

After months of showing “For Lease” signs in its windows, the Mercer Island Hollywood Video has closed its doors for good. The DVD rental store went out of business on Dec. 8 due to the bad economy, failing rental industry and high lease rates, according to a representative of the chain.

“Because of how big it was, the lease was too high and the store wasn’t making enough numbers,” said a Seattle Hollywood Video store manager, who declined to give his name. A member of the company’s corporate office was unreachable for comment.

The Mercer Island branch is not the only Hollywood Video to close in recent months. The stores in Wallingford and Capitol Hill have shut their doors, along with the Bellevue Hollywood Video on 140th Avenue Northeast. Other King County branches struggling to make a profit may follow suit.

“The company is closing its stores that are unprofitable,” the Seattle store manager said.

The Mercer Island store has been operating on 77th Avenue S.E. since the early 1990s, when it rented out only videos.

Two stores in the Seattle area remain open: the Hollywood Video at 306 23rd Ave. in South Seattle and the store at 3820 Rainier Avenue South.

Please call (503) 570-1600 with questions about the closure.

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