In Celebration of Video Room's 30th Anniversary, April 1983-2013

By Cherie Carter

Thirty years ago. April of 1983, a small family business named "Video Room" opened on College Avenue in Oakland.

Our mission was to provide the East Bay community with the latest in video home entertainment. The "VR" specialized in "Laserdiscs", the cutting edge of the industry at that time. The 12-inch Laserdiscs  offered a superior video resolution when compared to the VHS tapes then common in the industry.

This new format was slow to catch on so the "VR" added an extensive VHS tape collection and rapidly assumed the reputation for the finest and broadest collection of video entertainment in the East Bay.

In 1988 "Video Room" moved to Piedmont Avenue. The site of the current "Starbucks" offered the area expansion that was sorely needed to continue the store's growth and its high quality collection.

As laser technology improved, the larger 12-inch discs gave way to the smaller DVD format we now enjoy. High Definition was waiting in the wings and once again "VR" needed to expand to offer all three video formats to our ever increasing membership.

Thus in 1993, the store again moved to our current location at 4364 Piedmont Avenue and enjoyed, for the first time, the blessing of free parking. We are proud to have remained at this location for the past twenty years.

It hasn't been easy. The arrival of mail order services and large corporate chains threatened to overshadow this small neighborhood venue. With the support of a faithful core of loyal customers and each week an increase in membership, we have prevailed.

The refinements in both the quality and value of the DVD format eventually drove the more expensive Laserdisc format from the market place. The advancement towards high definition resolution rendered the VHS library redundant and the commercial production of VHS tape ceased. Indeed DVD players and the compatible BluRay players combined with Hi Definition flat screen monitors offer a virtually flawless visual and audio experience to the home viewer.

Video Room's large collection of VHS tapes and Laserdiscs were sold off and the store was then able to downsize, which allowed us a more efficient environment that focuses on every genre of home entertainment. Our current "Room" is about a third of our former self. A diet that many would envy. In this case.. Smaller is better!

As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary during the first week in April, and continuing on with our participation with fellow merchants on the April 18th Piedmont Avenue Stroll (formerly the Piedmont Avenue ArtWalk ), we look forward to our opportunities ahead.

With over 20,000 titles to choose from, and the continued support of our ownership family, the managers and staff at the "VR" press forward with this wonderful addiction of movies. We love the movies  and we love sharing them with all our friends and neighbors.

The block has been busted and the Video Room remains the last outpost of its kind on Piedmont Avenue. There is still room in a forest of tall trees for the thriving blossom of this small customer-oriented entertainment source. Come help us celebrate and start our 31st chapter.

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