The owner bought the store two and a half years a go. 

“We knew it was going to decline, but we didn’t expect it to be so quick,” Network Video Stawell’s owner Kimberley Gehan said. 

“The closure of video stores is a worldwide trend, with Netflix and other streaming options.

“The mine closure affected the business too.

“But it is breaking our hearts to do it, but we have no other option,” she said.  

This latest closure comes after a string of businesses shut their doors in Stawell late last year and early this year.

“We’ve looked at all of the options, such as moving to a small store but we’re losing too much money,” Ms Gehan said. 

Network Video in Stawell was one of the last video shops left in the Wimmera. 

The next nearest video store is in Hamilton. 

“People travelled from Ararat and Willaura to rent videos from the shop,” Ms Gehan said.  “We had a lot of loyal customers.” 

The store will close on June 30. 

“We are having a closing down sale.

“Hopefully the sale will pay for our final bills at the video store,” Ms Gehan said.

The video shop never made money during the two and a half years Ms Gehan owned the store. 

“Our goal was to break even.

“We saw it as community service, we did it for the community,” she said. 

“I volunteer for the Rotary Club of Stawell and I enjoy giving back to the community.” 

Ms Gehan said her favourite type of movies were Australian and true stories and will miss sharing her passion with people in the region.

Ms Gehan said the closing of the video store is the “end of an era for Stawell”. 

“I love Stawell and I’m not moving town because of the closure, I love the town,” she said. 

“I’m tough and I’ll find work.”

Ms Gehan said “I have a background in hospitality and our dream is to one day own a pub”.