![\"Winifred](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/kenvid1webtop.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cThe big mistake we made was we never took any time off,\u201d Guy said, explaining why their retirement failed. \u201cWhen we closed, it was a still a very vibrant business. We closed because mom and dad wanted to retire, and Pam wanted to enjoy her grandchildren. We never gave ourselves an opportunity to recharge the battery. After about two or three months, we found out how much we missed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting she never \u201creally\u201d wanted to retire, Winnie said she was overcome by the public reaction to their departure.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople were so depressed over the store closing,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019d send me emails and letters. Some people came in and cried and hugged us. It was like a family was leaving them \u2014 and they were leaving us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was such a connection,\u201d Guy said. \u201cIt was so much more than a video store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then came a business \u201cproposition\u201d from another family member.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy nephew came in and said he wanted to open a juice and smoothie place,\u201d Guy said about his relative who wanted to obtain a Jamba Juice franchise, which costs about $300,000. \u201cHe was short about $299,999.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to have some excuse to come back,\u201d Guy said, thinking that \u201cHere is something we could combine with my dream and (family film) history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy stood recently in the stripped-down shell of what had previously been one huge retail building, which is now divided into two separate sections, both of which his family owns. He said about two-thirds of the building space will be rented out to Kensington Pet Supply & Dog Wash, which will be moving in from down the street. The remaining space will be reconstituted as an updated video shop.<\/p>\n
Guy talked about his video store reboot, and his vision for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy idea is to bring a fruit, juice and smoothie bar into about one-third of the space near the back where the checkout counter used to be,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re no longer going to have the (video) selection out on the floor. It\u2019s all going to be computerized with a searchable database.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind him, Guy gestured toward the new shop\u2019s sidewall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis whole wall is going to be shelves 10-feet-high loaded with DVDs, and all this down here (new counter) is going to be jewel cases,\u201d he said adding, \u201cI\u2019m calling it the \u2018dog run\u2019 because that is where I\u2019m going to be going (retrieving customer requests).\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy wants the resurrected video store to be a true mecca for film buffs, and a showplace for emerging filmmakers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing we want to do is reach out to the film community at all the colleges and universities and have this be a free venue for students to come and show their innovative films, their short films that they\u2019re\u00a0making,\u201d Guy said. \u201cI\u2019ve already approached the professors at all the colleges and they\u2019re excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy intends to build a state-of-the art theater with all the bells and whistles, with seating for 40 or 50 people.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can come in have a smoothie and watch a movie,\u201d he said. \u201cI think both of those activities go hand-in-hand and will support each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy also wants to bring guests in to lecture about film.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is going to be a destination for film lovers,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what I want it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ever-popular \u201cWinnie\u2019s picks,\u201d mom\u2019s favorite recommendations from movies she reviews daily, will return.<\/p>\n
Guy said he is glad they didn\u2019t have a fire sale when they closed four months ago. He has his entire collection of nearly 70,000 titles in storage in 350 or so boxes in a warehouse.<\/p>\n
He offered his unrivaled collection, which he values at about $1 million, to San Diego State University for a quarter of the cost. The university was extremely interested, but couldn\u2019t find the funding. Guy also tried getting established online but noted, \u201ccompetition is absolutely fierce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy Hanford said Kensington Video\u2019s remodel should be complete by September or October.<\/p>\n
Will there be a big grand re-opening party?<\/p>\n
Winnie\u2019s not telling \u2014 for sure. But she hinted it might involve people dressing up in costume.<\/p>\n