Video rental business 7-24 Movies and More has found a new home in the Village, although its gain is the loss of The Manor Hair Lounge and Day Spa, which was closed abruptly to make room for it.
As previously reported, the owners of 7-24 decided to close the current location at 501A Church Street because of high rent and the declining nature of the movie rental business. They plan to relocate to 584 Church, on the block north of Dundonald. The unit was formerly occupied by The Manor; its much smaller floor space means that the rent is more affordable.
“We’ll offer the same range of movies; we’re keeping everything,” owner Mary Bu says. “We’re just shrinking the cases [to fit more into the smaller space]; that’s the only thing we’ll change.”
Bu says she’s very happy she was able to keep the business in the Village. She’s signed a five-year lease on the new location.
“This community is still very supportive of this business,” she says.
The space 7-24 is vacating will eventually become the new home of Starbucks, currently a few doors down the block.
As for The Manor, the business owner, who is also the landlord, decided to close shop at the beginning of the year to make room for 7-24. Employees of the spa were given less than a day’s notice that their jobs were gone, former manager Chris Ryan says.
“He didn’t really give any of the staff notice or explanation,” Ryan says. “I don’t think it was ever their intention to own a spa in the area. I think it was their intention to develop the building, but when it didn’t get developed, they ran a spa.”
Ryan says eight people worked at the spa, and all have since found employment at other salons.
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