From Ambito · Ivan Sierkovich · · 1m 30s
DVDs Survive in Few Retailers
Few Buenos Aires movie stores survive as digital streaming dominates.
In brief
Few Buenos Aires movie stores survive as digital streaming dominates. Two decades after the DVD shift, Buenos Aires movie retailers face collapse due to lost film releases and aging customers. Originally reported by Ambito.
Corrientes Avenue's Video District
Corrientes Avenue once hosted a video district with 20-25 stores selling films.
Solo Cine Owner
Jorge Lococo, 72, runs Solo Cine for 32 years since 1994.
Solo Cine's Struggle
Sales dropped after pandemic, with October 2023 marking a sharp decline.
El Ciudadano Owner
Gustavo Jainovich, 75, runs El Ciudadano for 35 years since 1991.
El Ciudadano's Strategy
Jainovich buys films from liquidated inventories to sustain sales.
Pandemic Impact
The pandemic closed the last distributor of Argentine films in late 2019.
Classical Film Buyers
Half of Solo Cine's customers are over 65, buying classic films.
Digital Shift
Digital streaming replaced physical film sales, reducing Argentine film releases.
Financial Instability
Daily sales fluctuate wildly, from $10,000 to $300,000.
El Ciudadano's Future
Jainovich plans a major sale to liquidate stock if the business closes.
Solo Cine's Future
Lococo may close Solo Cine in 2026 after sales dropped in October.
Retail Decline
Few stores remain as digital streaming dominates the market.
End of an Era
The video retail era in Buenos Aires is ending with few stores left.
The one thing
Two decades after the DVD shift, Buenos Aires movie retailers face collapse due to lost film releases and aging customers.
