Unchained merchandising

Independent Downbeach Video offers what the big conglomerates haven’t got: ice cream, Johnson’s Popcorn and an Internet café

By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer

MARGATE – Mike Angello and his fiancée, Nancy Kyle, are fighting the tide. With competition from Netflix and mega movie stores such as Hollywood Video and Blockbuster, what would make anyone decide to open a little “mom and pop” movie store?

Angello said he and Kyle both have other careers. He works at Borgata and she works at the Red Door Salon inside the Hilton, but they really wanted to try their hand at a business.

“We looked at the location and considered the fact that the only other movie rental in Ventnor, Margate or Longport is Hollywood Video in Ventnor Heights, and we thought this would work,” said Angello.

The two bought the store in April 2006 when it was located on Essex and began making improvements. Angello studied art in college and admitted he is a bona fide movie buff. He posts a list of suggested movies each week and enjoys talking movies with his customers.  

Though he is concerned about getting noticed, Downbeach Video moved around the corner from its old Essex Avenue location onto Ventnor Avenue over the winter. It is nestled among some of Margate’s most popular destinations – Hot Bagels and More is next door, and across the street are Downbeach Deli and Downbeach Liquors.

“We have the store open seven days a week and we are really making a go at it,” said Angello. He said he has a limited number of VHS tapes for rent and carries more than 5,000 titles in DVD format.

Kyle and Angello made a joint decision when they bought Downbeach Video that it would be a family kind of place. They got rid of all the adult titles that the previous owner carried.

“We want parents to be comfortable coming here or sending their kids here to rent a DVD. We have ice cream, and we are the only store carrying Johnson’s Popcorn for sale,” explained the shop owner.

Don’t have a DVD player while away? Not a problem. Angello also has DVD players for sale.

Angello said he does a lot of business with families who stop in after the beach to pick up a movie or two to keep the children occupied while mom is busy making dinner.

But with his newest addition to the store, there will be more reason to stop.

“We are going to open an Internet café in here,” said Angello. “I used two surfboards to be like a desk. I have the Internet hooked up. All they will have to do is come in with their laptop computer and they can sit here and check their mail or take care of some business while they are out of the office or out of town.”

Downbeach Video also offers copier and fax service, making it a convenient spot to take care of business when the office is a lot farther away than the beach.

Downbeach Video is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. When summer is in full swing it will stay open until 11 daily. Call (609) 487-0304 for information.

To comment on this story e-mail marino (at) catamaranmedia.com .

Photo by Suzanne Marino