The VU Cinema Cafe in Jamaica Plain stands out as the last DVD rental store in the Boston area, offering an engaging coffee experience alongside its extensive film collection. Managed by Kevin Koppes for over a decade, the cafe features a nostalgic aesthetic, attracting visitors and local movie enthusiasts. With more than 17,000 titles, including both classics and new releases, The VU operates on a subscription model that caters to varying customer preferences while fostering community connections through events and personalized service.
"I love the whole aesthetic," said Rachel Crowell, 23, a nursing student at Northeastern University. "It just makes me feel really nostalgic."
Koppes, 43, has managed The VU for over 10 years and has amassed over 17,000 film titles in that time. About 4,000 movies are available for rental and are categorized by filmmaker, new releases, and genre.
The VU uses a subscription model, offering three tiers of subscriptions that range from $20 to $60 a month and vary in terms of the number of movies members can rent at once.
Koppes learned that the store would be shutting down - and he wanted to save it. After a change of ownership, a relocation, and a name change, The VU at 3203 Washington St. was born in 2014.
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