By: Justin Haley
For any film lover who feels tired of the same old contemporary Hollywood movies found at their local corporate video store, then we have the answer for you. Toronto has an impressive selection of diverse little independently owned video rental shops that will have you dabbling in a world of cinema that you never knew existed. Take your time, browse every section and do not forget to ask the staff what their weekly recommandations are.
Here is our selection of the top independent video stores in the city:
7/24 Video
510 A Church Street
(416) 924-0724
Open Everyday: 10:00am - 2:00am
Gay town may be over-saturating its window stores with restaurants and night life, however the main strips one and only video store at Church and Wellesley is the most impressive video store you will find in the East end. Spacious and cozy, the store has wall to wall options of the latest releases, extensive television series, and classic films from every decade. Furthermore, 7/24 has the most extensive list of queer cinema options in the city, which vary in genre and theme. It is not hard to spend hours browsing through the bins searching for forgotten treasures, (and you will find them here). A weekly special of rent two get one free, along with the late hours and affordable rates, make 7/24 a fantastic neighbourhood video store.
Bay Street Video
1172 Bay Street
(416) 964-9088
http://www.baystreetvideo.com
Open Everyday: 10:00am - midnight
Any Ryerson or U of T film student has an undeniable adoration for this Yorkville video shop. Stocking a massively diverse collection of DVD's (for rent or sale), Bay Street Video is a power broker for Indie video stores in the city. From history's most famous autuers to the newest release, to animation films and old foreign classics, Bay Street Video offers film lovers (and students) access to the mediums most influential productions of yesterday and today. Organization is key to Bay Street Video's appeal too, and the sectioning of their films are the most inspiring in the city; one can find their film in a matter of seconds. Bay Street also stocks Blue-Ray and HD DVD's.
Marquee Video
1037 College Street
(416) 532-5423
http://www.marqueevideo.com
Sunday - Thursday: 12:00pm - 10:30pm
Friday - Saturday: 12:00pm - 11:00pm
At the edge of the west end there is the humble and multi faceted Marquee Video. With the enthusiastic behind the counter staff it is hard not to grow a fond liking to this video store. And now with over five thousand films and counting in their collection, Marquee video offers a wide range of genre, foreign, and documentary films that will suite any film worshipper. After finding that perfect film for your evening, take the time and enjoy a delicious coffee or ice cream which the Marquee video store also offers. The Marquee video store is truly a one of a kind movie going experience, and its unique milieu completely works. Suggestion: check out their graphic novel selection as well.
Suspect Video and Culture
605 Markham Street
(416) 588-6674
http://www.suspectvideo.com
Monday - Saturday: 12:00pm - 11:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
After the devastating blaze that completely demolished the Queen Street location, there now lives only one Suspect Video and Culture in the city. And although the Markham Street location is not as impressive as the Queen Street Suspect, their collection is still impressively comprehensive and varied. You'll find new and old, foreign, cult classics, and if you are into to horror - then the Markham Street location is place any horror fan must check out. Suspect Video and Culture has the most extensive list of horror films in the city. From Hitchcock to Val Lewton to John Carpenter and Wes Craven, Suspect has all your frightening cravings under one roof.
Queen Video
412 Queen Street West
(416) 504-3030
Open Everyday: 11:00am - 11:00pm
Nestled in the heart of west-end hipster land, Queen Street Video is the most impressive independently owned video stores in the city. The quirky store is run and operated by eccentric cinephile's who can literally make any experience here an enjoyable education in film studies. Queen Video is truly for those who want to broaden their scope of film beyond contemporary Hollywood. The shop is completely packed with off-beat indie, foreign, documentary, and more impressively, an abundance of Canadian films, which are often difficult to find. Affordable rental prices as well make this the most popular indie video store in the city.
We cannot leave out these five stores which truly deserve honourable mentions:
2Q Video
830 Bloor Street West
(416) 532 - 3829
http://www.2qvideo.com
Monday - Thursday: 1:00pm - 11:00pm
Friday - Sunday: 12:00pm - 11:00pm
Ammo Video
662 College Street
(416) 533-3488
Monday - Saturday: 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Sunday: 3:00pm - 9:00pm
Black Dog Video
986 Queen Street West
(416) 530-0006
Open Everyday: 8:00am - 11:00pm
MovieXpress DVD and Game Rentals
1029 King West
(416) 260-5959
http://www.moviexpresskwt-ca.guyaonline.com
Open 24 hours
Revue Video
207 Danforth Avenue
(416) 778-5776
Open Everyday: 11:00am - 10:00pm
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