With little mom 'n' pop video stores disappearing faster than a newly hatched wrinkle on Cher's face, a small prayer or two might just be in order for Video Renaissance. Inconspicuously tucked away in the middle of a faceless little strip mall just minutes from the heart of downtown Sarasota, Renaissance's relatively tiny space is crammed to the rafters with just about the most impressive (no, make that awe-inspiring) selection of videos and DVDs we've ever seen under one roof. It can be a little difficult navigating the narrow aisles, and the shelves are packed tight with goodies, but it's relatively easy to find what you want because all the titles are efficiently organized according to director, type of film or country of origin. Dying to take a peek at those Turkish versions of Star Trek or The Wizard of Oz, or maybe just something more "normal," like Lars Von Trier's controversial Dogme opus The Idiots? Video Renaissance has it all, and more. The personable, almost ridiculously well-informed staff is all too eager to share their cinematic wit and wisdom with customers, making the rental experience here as interesting as it is, well, fun. All in all, a trip to Video Renaissance is a must for any movie lover residing anywhere within the state of Florida.
Video Renaissance, 2243 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 941-925-2780.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.