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Sorting out the drama — and the comedy, cult and action — at On 15th Video

(Image: CHS)

(Image: CHS)

In the week since we learned about the closure of On 15th Videothe last video store on Capitol Hill — CHS still hasn’t learned what led to closing down the more than 25-year-old business but we have learned more about the man who owned the store, his family’s video business history, and, maybe most importantly, the people in the community who loved stopping by to visit a good, old-fashioned video store.

“It’s really been a valued community asset,” Capitol Hill Housing property manager Billie Abers tells CHS. “I’ve reached out to Lyle.”

“It was shorter notice than we normally like.”

Lyle is On 15th’s owner Lyle Holmes. CHS has attempted to contact Holmes about the closure but have not heard back from him so far.

Customers of the shop have also been left in the lurch with rented movies still in their possession and, for some, questions about just-paid membership fees. But, for most, the writing was on the wall.

“Video stores that you walk into really aren’t the best business any more,” Capitol Hill Housing’s Abers tactfully put it. Others might wonder why Holmes didn’t close the store sooner.

Others, meanwhile, are getting together to mourn the loss and visit with the store’s mostly blindsided staff. Here’s an invite passed along to CHS:

Fans of “On 15th Video” have reserved the back room at the Liberty Tavern this Saturday, September 20, from 4:30 to 7:30 to celebrate the community the store created and thank the staff.  If you’re one of the many people who will miss “On 15th Video”, stop in to say hello, say thank you, say goodbye, or just talk about movies.

UPDATE: We’ve heard from one employee who says the Saturday gathering was news to him. Sorry! We should have included information from the organizer who told us he had been able to reach one employee but was reaching out through CHS in hopes of reaching more. You should go. Somebody will buy you a beer! UPDATE x2  9/20/2014 10:53 AM: We just got a message that Saturday’s gathering is canceled.

tumblr_naxfvlOVzE1s7gjzzo1_500According to people familiar with the situation, Holmes acquired On 15th Video from his mother. The family had owned the store since the ’90s and also owned other shops in Seattle. In 1998, their company Director’s Ltd. attempted to purchase Scarecrow Video but the store’s founders tried to scuttle the deal after learning about Holmes’s background.

In 1993, Holmes pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud after embezzling money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development. 33 at the time, Holmes was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay more than $976,000 in restitution to HUD.

Trustee Services Inc., with Holmes serving as CEO, was contracted to collect money on foreclosures against HUD property. Holmes admitted to using the money to pay off personal loans and credit-card debts. Investigators also found evidence he was planning to use embezzled funds to start a new company.

Eight years later and out of prison, Holmes was attempting to purchase Scarecrow. A bankruptcy judge refused to block the deal despite the past conviction. But the Scarecrow sale eventually fell through and new buyers  stepped in. In 2014, Scarecrow reorganized as a non-profit and remains one of the last operating video stores in the city.

Today, Holmes is president and CEO at his company iSpeak Interactive and claims clients like Microsoft, Oracle and Amgen for the company’s “video tools” services.

There were no clear signs of major financial issues around On 15th. Abers said the business had paid its rent and was in good standing with its landlords. A check of court records doesn’t reveal any new cases involving Holmes or his businesses though we did find a warrant dated for this month for unpaid state taxes.

Given that video stores “really aren’t the best business any more,” changes are certainly in store for the old Fire Station #7. We’re told the building owners are meeting in coming days to figure out what comes next.

For now, it’s time for remembrance. “There were a number of things that made On 15th Video special.  For one, their inventory was at my disposal free of charge for use in my classroom. Teachers often spend a lot of their own money procuring materials for lessons, so I really appreciated this benefit,” said Matt Lawrence, who is helping organize Saturday’s gathering at Liberty.

“When I found that they had closed, I was so sorry that I hadn’t had an opportunity to thank their friendly and informative staff,” Lawrence writes. “I know others in the neighborhood felt the same way. People left bouquets of flowers on their doorstep beneath the notice about their closing.”

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5 Comments
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Regret
Regret
9 years ago

I would be interested in helping with an effort to revive the business, but may not be able to make the Liberty event. If any of the people involved care to share their contact info so I can follow up, please do so. Thanks.

Neighbor
9 years ago

This is such a major bummer. I realize most people prefer Neflix but I loved being able to peruse the shelves and the staff were great. They had a lot of movies you can’t find on Netflix or elsewhere online. Sad.

Carey Schwaber
Carey Schwaber
9 years ago

We learned from Laura Miller, the agent representing this property, that it has been leased. Can the folks at this blog do some digging to find out who leased it and what their intentions are for the space?

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[…] the sudden closure last September of On 15th Video, CHS talked with Capitol Hill Housing reps who were coordinating the search for a new tenant for […]