Hollywood Video closes Garapan branch

The Hollywood Video store in Garapan will be closing shop after 27 years since they won’t have any employees after September, a development they blame on the delay in the processing of the CW-1 work permits of employees. (Bea Cabrera)

Hollywood Video is closing its Garapan branch effective Sept. 30, 2019, due to staffing woes brought about by the difficulties in renewing staff under the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker program.

The video rental shop said it will retain its branch in As Lito.

According to store manager Lina Manabat, who has been with the store since it opened in May 1992, management decided to close the store only last week when it dawned on them that their CW visa renewals will not make it before the expiration date, which is the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2019.

“We cried when we were told that we were closing down…as the possibility of running out of tickets is high. Our boss booked our tickets and we don’t want to run the risk of being out of status,” she said.

“It is sad, too, because I will leave my husband and three children. …Although I know that there is a big chance that I will come back and hope that the wait in my home country (the Philippines) will only be for a short time, the sadness is still there,” she added.

Hollywood Video has been in business since 1992 with its first branch in San Jose. Currently, it has two stores: in As Lito and Garapan. Manabat said that the Garapan branch where she works is disposing most of its merchandise by selling DVDs for $1.50 and Blu-Ray discs for $4.99.

“Whatever is left will be transferred to the Hollywood Video in the As Lito branch, which will stay open…we are rushing everything so that the company still have manpower to transfer the products to our As Lito store,” Manabat said.

“We find comfort from our loyal customers who keep telling us don’t lose hope because there are five days left for a miracle. …In my more than 20 years here, we have overcome many highs and lows, many competitors like Netflix rose… but our boss loves this store [so much] that, even if we don’t make a profit, he says we will stay open as long as we get to pay the rent on time and employees’ salaries are not delayed. In the end, it is actually the CW issue that will actually close this store down,” she added.

In less than a week before she leaves Saipan, Manabat hangs on to the thought that the CW renewal applications will be given an extension. “It is our only chance to keep our jobs and be with our families. …This is definitely a hard time. …I feel really sentimental about this store because everything I own or possess, it is because of my work here at Hollywood Video,’ she said.

And just like many movies that Manabat sells or rents out at Hollywood Video, she hopes that this CW issue will also have a happy ending for her and for all of the workers.