AUSTIN, Texas — Vulcan Video hosted a customer appreciation day Saturday to celebrate raising more than $26,000 to keep its doors open.  

  • Fundraiser is for $35,000 total
  • Reached $25,000 in 2 weeks
  • Store opened in 1986

“It’s an Austin institution that just refuses to die,” said Jacob Knight, the store’s general manager.

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Since 1986, Austinites have been renting movies from Vulcan Video.

“Vulcan has basically evolved with Austin and with cinema culture in general. You know from VHS to DVD to Blu-ray,” said Knight.

“It’s just part of that local Austin feeling too. I mean it’s unique and it’s amazing that a place like this still exists. It really is,” said Alexandra De La Mora, a regular Vulcan Video customer.

General Manager Jacob Knight and employees behind the counter at Vulcan Video (Spectrum News)

But as streaming services rose in popularity, Vulcan began to experience financial troubles.

Last month, the store started an online fundraiser to keep its doors open.

More than two weeks later, it’s less than $10,000 from its goal.

“We hoped for love but we didn’t expect basically an army to come out of the woodwork and say no we want Vulcan video to continue on,” said Knight.

The outpouring of support is a testament to what the store means to its fiercely loyal patrons.

“People count on this place to share the movies they like with the people that matter to them,” said A.J. Gonzalez, a former Vulcan Video employee.

“People come back because not only do they love getting movies here, they love talking to the people who work here, and they love talking to the other customers here,” said Knight. “It’s not just a video store, it’s a community hub.”

That community hub will now continue to bring rabid Austin cinephiles together.