Howard Hughes Video in Moscow is venturing to become a co-op store in an effort to preserve its large collection of videos.
The store, located at 520 S. Main St., is undergoing transition into the new co-op arrangement and is expected to be fully functioning under its new name, Main Street Video Cooperative Inc., in March, after the current owners relinquish control.
"That's our goal," co-manager Ian Pannkuk said.
The group already has a board, bylaws and articles of incorporation, said Melinda Schab, one of the primary organizers and a board member. Schab is also the general manager of the Moscow Food Co-op, which is located across the alley from the video store.
Any customer has the option of becoming a customer-shareholder. It requires payment of a $200 fee that could be paid all at once or over a couple of longer selected time periods, as described in the ownership agreement.
A lump-sum membership payment is preferred, especially as the group tries to accumulate money to make the store a viable co-op, according to a flier explaining the change. The co-op is trying to reach a fiscal deadline and "needs as many people to buy their shares outright, if possible, if we are going to succeed," the flier says.
"We have our work cut out for us," Pannkuk said.
Shareholder standing includes deals, coupons, reduced late fees and the ability to choose future board members, he said.
Store DVD inventory includes many classic films not readily available through large rental companies or streaming, Pannkuk said. Along with the large number of classic films are significant collections of foreign films, television series and a separate store area with science fiction titles, he said.
"We have over 30,000 flicks," he said.
While the at-home video business is evolving, Pannkuk said the store's collection is worth preserving and such a co-op system venture should be viable for quite some time.
"I personally think we're usable for the foreseeable future. Many of these movies you can't find anywhere else," he said.
If they can't collect enough money to swing the co-op, then the money collected will be returned, he said.
Pannkuk said the store started off years ago as an offshoot of Howard Hughes Appliances, which was trying to sell VCRs and decided to start offering videos "on a little rack." Demand for titles became so great the eventually opened a separate video store, he said.
It has since changed hands and the current owners want to move on, he said.
The first board meeting still hasn't been scheduled.
Terri Harber can be reached at (208) 883-4631, or by email to tharber@dnews.com.
