Leonard St. Video Tyme/Blockbuster Going the Way of Studio 28

I know what you are thinking, "Who cares, it's just an old video rental store."

Not so much my good friend. This wasn't your typical video rental store...this was my first video rental store where I discovered a love that I have kept with me for over 20 years.

If you know me, you will already know that I am talking about my love of video games. Back when I was a kid, the Nintendo Entertainment System was all the rage. The NES brought me into a world of gaming that I had no clue that would continue into something that I cherish every day. Even to the point where I have an NES controller tattooed on my arm, that's dedication!

Back to the old store though, this Leonard St. located rental store was the store I rented my first ever video game. When I was younger, I thought this was the only way you could play new video games! Buying a game was very foreign to me. I remember going through those aisle's just loaded with boxes with pictures the depicted adventure, challenge, and puzzles.

A few games that I frequently rented were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1, 2, 3 and Super Mario Bros. 2. Also Back to the Future 2 & 3, which when I play it today...it's just a horrible game! I also remember frequently trying to rent Super Mario Bros. 3, but it was ALWAYS rented out. If you walk into a Rental Store today, you will see maybe 5 copies of the game. Not back then man, games were as expensive as they are today, however, wages were lower.

Video Tyme was eventually purchased by Blockbuster Video. During this time, we rented a lot of movies and such, but no matter what, I always rented video games, I rarely rented a movie. Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Nintendo 64 hit the scene and so did I! Renting the newest games. This location was also the first time I ever played a Nintendo 64 and Star Fox 64! Strange that I remember these things right?

Video Rental stores always hold a special place in my heart, where every weekend, my mother would bring me to a place that I could 'Choose my own Adventure." I like to think that I have a creative mind and a wild imagination, which I owe a lot to video games.

Where I would have never discovered if I never set foot in this little store on Leonard St.

Soon to become a memory of a love that has grown for over 20 years