A look inside one of the last DVD rental stores in South Africa
While on-demand online streaming services have become the preferred way to consume movies and series, South Africa still has a handful of DVD rental stores.
One such institution can be found on Gleneagles Drive in Johannesburg, tucked away between a hair salon and the trendy Greenside design quarter.
The Majestic offers a trip down memory lane for those who can recall the heydays of outlets like Mr Video, but with a far more cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Upon a recent visit, Newsday found the charming store’s shelves and tables packed to the brim, with around 14,000 films and series to rent or buy.
While most of the titles were DVDs, there were also a few Blu-Rays, VHS tapes, and CDs available.
The collection includes films from nearly every imaginable genre, from action, sci-fi, and fantasy to romance, comedy, and musicals.
We found co-owner Henni Erasmus chatting with friends on a small patio at the store’s front door.
While there was no formal food or beverage service, there was a coffee station for visitors, including regulars who have embraced the store as a favourite hangout spot.
Visitors have praised Erasmus and fellow owner Niel Schoeman for being really approachable and living what they do.
Erasmus was kind enough to share a bit about the store’s history and current performance, as well as his personal passion for the performing arts.
The Majestic was originally founded by Wits professor of English Stan Peskin, who was known among his peers as a ballet and opera aficionado.
The store takes its name from a 2001 movie starring Jim Carrey as a scriptwriter who is forced to live with a new identity after losing his memory in an accident.
The store was originally located in Parktown North before replacing a community-loathed Adult World a few shops down from its current site.
Love at first reel
Erasmus and Niel Schoeman bought the store from Peskin around 2005. At that point, the professor was already around 70 and too old to keep running the business.
Erasmus’ love for the movies emerged at a young age. As a teenager, he worked at 16mm shops offering film reels and projector rentals. He was also a keen vinyl collector.
Straight out of his compulsory military service, Erasmus worked at a movie store. He has remained in the industry since.
Despite his love for experiencing films and series in a physical format, Erasmus has no delusions about the financial viability of a DVD rental business.
He is an avid user of video streaming services like Netflix and believes there is no point in resisting the trend of the times.
Nonetheless, the store can still see in the region of 30 customers on its busiest days and recently had its best December in years in terms of footfall.
During our quick 15-minute visit on a Saturday afternoon, there were at least three other customers walking through the shop, one of which rented a large stack of DVDs.
The store charges R30 to rent a DVD for a week. While the amount is roughly the same as a decade ago, the rental period is far more lenient.
For Erasmus, the most enjoyable part of the business has become the buying and selling portion. He is particularly fond of collecting the classics.
In addition to its wide range of movies and series, The Majestic features a selection of art pieces, iconic movie posters, and statues of movie characters.
People interested in buying from The Majestic but unable to visit the store in person can contact Erasmus at his cell number (082-475-7933) for potential courier delivery.
Erasmus also arranges theatre group excursions and has grown close with prominent actors and artists, some of whom share his love for film collections.
The Majestic DVD store
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