Kim's Video and Music
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (video and music) |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Yongman Kim |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Manhattan, New York City |
| Owner | Yongman Kim |
Kim's Video and Music operated as a retail outlet specializing in video and music in Manhattan, New York City. It gained a reputation as the premier destination for hard-to-find titles,[1] and was well-regarded among enthusiasts of avant-garde, experimental, and obscure film and music.[2] At its height, Kim's operated six branches throughout Manhattan. The business was owned by Yongman Kim.
History
Originally established on the premises of Kim’s dry-cleaning shop, the store relocated to a dedicated space on Avenue A in 1987. This location remained open until its closure in 2004.[3][4]
The chain grew to include five additional outlets: Mondo Kim's at 6 St. Mark's Place in the East Village; Kim's Underground located at 144 Bleecker Street near Laguardia Place; Kim's West at the intersection of 350 Bleecker Street and West 10th Street; and Kim's Mediapolis situated at 2906 Broadway.
On April 21, 2014, the final remaining Kim’s Video & Music store on 1st Avenue announced it would be closing.[5]
Mondo Kim's
Among the various branches, Mondo Kim's at 6 St. Mark's Place was the most renowned. The building previously housed the New St. Marks Baths from 1913 until its closure in 1985. In June 2005, law enforcement conducted a raid on Mondo Kim’s, accusing the store of distributing unauthorized bootleg copies.[6][7] Additionally, it developed a reputation for occasionally surly customer service.[7]
By 2008, Mondo Kim’s inventory included more than 55,000 rental titles, many of which were rare or difficult to find. In September of that year, Yongman Kim declared plans to close Mondo Kim’s and distribute its entire film collection free of charge to individuals meeting specific requirements; he stipulated that the collection remain intact and that members retain access regardless of its location. Later that year, reports indicated that Salemi, a town in Sicily, had successfully acquired the collection as part of an effort to revitalize the village.[8][9][10]
A report published by the Village Voice in 2012 titled "The Strange Fate of Kim's Video" revealed that although the collection remained unbroken after relocation to Salemi, it had largely vanished from public access. Furthermore, promises made by both Yongman Kim and Salemi’s local government regarding the collection’s use had yet to materialize.[11]
Documentary
On April 1, 2022, filmmakers David Redmon and Ashley Sabin, with support from Yongman Kim and Tim League, repatriated the Kim's Video St. Mark’s Place film archive to New York City after it had been stored in Salemi for 12 years. This event was documented by Redmon and Sabin in their 2023 film Kim's Video. With backing from the Alamo Drafthouse chain, Kim's Video & Music was revived under the name Kim's Video Underground. The revamped store is situated within the lobby of Alamo’s Lower Manhattan venue in the Financial District of Manhattan. Additionally, the store now provides complimentary 5-day rentals.[12]
Notable employees
Kim's gained recognition for its distinctive staff,[13][14] who were characterized by The Awl as "renowned for their expertise and somewhat aloof demeanor."[14] Several former employees later achieved notable success in film, music, and other creative fields.[13]
- Isabel Gillies, actress and author[13]
- Dawn Eden Goldstein, author[15]
- Robert Greene, documentary director[13]
- Albert Hammond Jr., musician and member of The Strokes[13]
- Alex Ross Perry, filmmaker and screenwriter[13]
- Todd Phillips, filmmaker, producer, and writer[13]
- Dylan Kidd, director and screenwriter[16]
- Christopher Pravdica, musician affiliated with Swans[13]
- Kate Lyn Sheil, actress[17]
- Chris Vanderloo, founder of Other Music[13]
- Sean Price Williams, cinematographer[13]
- Andrew W.K., musician[13]
- Nick Zedd, filmmaker[13]
- Eric Copeland, musician and member of Black Dice
- Michael M. Bilandic, filmmaker[18]
- Jacqueline Castel, filmmaker[19]
- Wesley Morris, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic at The New York Times[20]
- Chris Ryan, editorial director at The Ringer[21]
- Kat Toledo, comedian and filmmaker [22]
- Ben Apatoff, author published by Bloomsbury Publishing [23]
- Jody Avirgan, podcast producer and host [24]
- Brian Turner, former music director and program manager at WFMU[25] as well as DJ[26]
References
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- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 The Story of Kim’s Video & Music, Told By Its Clerks and Customers. Bedford and Bowery.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 O'Connor, Brendan. Who Killed Kim's Video? The Awl.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Tinkham, Chris. Kate Lyn Sheil's Video Past and Netflix Future. Interview.
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- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ https://x.com/cinema_strikes/status/952290260742033409
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Further reading
- "The Unusual Journey of Kim's Video", Village Voice, September 12, 2012, accessed September 12, 2012.
External links
- Template:IMDb title (documentary film)
- Kim's Video on Blu-ray.com (documentary)