Bay Street Video thrives after 33 years as young people rediscover physical media beyond streaming

In the heart of Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood sits Bay Street Video, the keeper of the city's largest DVD collection, with thousands of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K UltraHDs up for rental and purchase. The store has been a staple for film aficionados of all movie tastes for decades, celebrating 33 years of history over the weekend.

Brendan Whelton, an independent film producer who has been working as the store's manager for 10 years, explains that Bay Street Video started as a different video store and was eventually taken over by the property manager, who renamed and restructured the business. Since then, the store has seen only three different managers, who have led the business through the ups and downs in an industry where digital media appeared poised to take over entirely.

"It's been really rewarding to see the store grow despite all conventional wisdom and everyone saying that physical media is dead and no one has a DVD player anymore, and I love proving people wrong," Whelton said.

Despite the rise of streaming services, Bay Street Video has seen impressive growth over the last few years in both clientele and catalog. According to Whelton, the store currently holds about 40,000 DVDs, just under 10,000 Blu-rays, and 1,000 4K UltraHD discs for rent, in addition to 12,000 to 15,000 titles for sale. The collection keeps growing.

Since Netflix launched its on-demand streaming service in 2007, followed by platforms like CraveTV in 2014, interest in consuming film and TV digitally has grown to become the norm. According to a Rogers Sports & Media report published last month, about 26.6 million people aged over 18 consume ad-supported video streaming in Canada, while millions of others pay for subscription services.

The rise in streaming services has significantly changed the industry, leading several physical media companies to close their doors across the city, including Blockbuster, which closed permanently in 2011, and Rogers Video in 2012. Yet Bay Street Video has managed to stay afloat and thriving. Whelton says the store has seen an influx in new customers, especially young people — film students, young families, and young customers seeking movies that aren't always available on streaming platforms.

Many customers are frustrated by rising subscription costs, disappearing titles, and algorithm-driven recommendations, preferring the permanence and intentionality of physical media. Staff recommendations, active social media content, and a focus on personal connections with film lovers have helped Bay Street Video attract new customers and remain relevant.

Whelton says the store wants to "be a place where [you] can get what you need." For three decades running, that promise has resonated.