With The Times

Video Production, Narration and Editing by Haley Alphonse

News Story Written by Crystal Herrera

DVD isn’t dead after all, at least not at The Vu. Behind its inconspicuous facade, this cafe and video rental store is a fun house for movie buffs and creative coffee drinkers. With 17,000 titles in their DVD collection, customers can explore a cinematic cosmos while sipping their film-inspired drinks. 

The menu appeals to a range of palettes, from traditional to zany. Notes of red raspberry leaf, lemon balm and dried currant profile an array of vibrant teas. The sober can opt for G-rated cocktails. While straight-shooters down espressos, Harry Potter fans toast to magic with a ‘Leaky Couldron,’ a tributary in the monthly specials menu. As orders are made custom to each customer, movie enthusiasts search the vast film collection for their next feature. 

Locals love this spot for its intimate community and thematic experience. During her weekly visit, Avery held “the usual” in one hand and a Dead Ringers disk in the other. “It’s completely unique. The people who work there are great. I tell literally everyone I know about this place,” the Jamaica Plain resident said.

The shopkeepers know many of their regular customers by name and drink order, including their specifications and allergies. At the cue of the doorbell, barista Casey Nelson hollers confidently from behind the counter. “Double shot black, right?” Nelson said, reaching for the grinds before the regular could say yes. 

The concept of marrying cafe and movie culture is so novel that it even convinced one couple to move to the neighborhood. Annalisa Heppner said she and her partner, Steven Sirisky, spotted the Vu while apartment hunting last year. “We thought, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be cool to live in a neighborhood with a cafe that’s, like, movies—and, where can you even find film rentals anymore,” Heppner said.

For cafe owner Kevin Koppes, the answer was always nowhere. Films were a big part of his upbringing in his hometown in rural Iowa, and video stores were rare gems. Koppes opened the cafe with the hope that its curated collection can shepherd people through a vast cinema expense, and create a community of film lovers.

One thing is certain: this collection has range. The spectrum of content varies widely in genre, film style, language, origin, thematic substance and ubiquity. Whether it’s spoofs or art houses, anyone can find something to watch here. 

While most people consume films through streaming platforms, many cafe subscribers value the movie viewing experience and warm nostalgia that digital video disks provide. 

Customers say they feel more engaged when watching movies using DVD’s compared to streaming services. ‘It makes it more deliberate. Rather than scrolling through stuff and then giving up,” Sirisky said.

Joe, another resident and frequent visitor, added that video quality of disks was better than streaming platforms, where the volume of consumer traffic can compromise playback. 

Streaming platforms that are also production studios encourage viewers to watch original content by promoting it during the browsing process. “We don’t push any of that,” Koppes said. As an independent film distributor divorced from corporate demand, his priority is simply to connect people to films they love.

The Vu’s browsing experience is unique in that it’s editorially curated by shopkeepers, who organize content to encourage cinematic exploration. Their sorting methods group films that are related in unconventional ways, producing sections that function like recommendations by connecting browsers to a variety of related films.

For example, sections label ‘gangster’ pool films containing that trope, while the ‘ocean’ category relates movies based on setting. In the ‘edibles’ section, you can find films that fit the viewing occasion or pair well with other particular activities.

The Vu is novel in many regards. Those who swear DVD is obsolete will rethink it after a visit to the Vu. Their delivery of personable and quality service that satisfies the diverse appetites of cinema lovers and coffee drinkers alike, creating loyal fans who just can’t get enough.

By Haley Alphonse and Crystal Herrera