Completely Video

This place is awesome lots to choose from. He even has 3D blue rays which are really hard to find when your just trying to rent. Great prices and customer service.

James is the best. Anyone living in 92 116 and not going here for their movies is really missing out on one of lifes simple pleasures. James always remembers who I am and never asks me for my rental card, he always has the best recommendations and is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Do yourself a favor and ditch the Redbox tonight.

Friendly service, great local small business. I go here cause he always knows what new movies I like and super friendly. Super cheap and he always remembers you. Donation to for the kids are always welcomed and never pushed!!! And you can bring you dog in on your night stroll.

James is the best! Great selection, service, and prices!

James is the reason you keep coming here. He is an awesome small business owner who has his heart in charity (behind the counter he posts how much he’s donated along with photos!) He will remember your name, make your kids laugh and share funny stories.
There is a decent enough selection, but you don’t come here for the selection. You walk your kids here, let ‘em snoop around for the experience, and leave knowing you’re supporting a good cause and community business.
Side note: If you ARE looking for selection, travel down the street to Ken Video!

Im not sure who ‘Ace A.’ is… and Im not sure how he could have such distain for the little ol’ dude owner, but Ace, catch some advice, brah. Dont ask to «borrow» a movie. They are cheap, rent it instead okay? Hell, they even sell movies now, did ya know?
Anyway, the place does rock. All the major movies, none of the shit you have to go through at other places AND yeah, it is a small, local business.
Porn in back for the masturbators, candy at the register for the sugar-​fixers, blue ray for whoever the hell watches that and the best thing? The owner dude has all this cool stuff for sale that goes to charity!
So I ask you, oh person who loves netflix… Would you rather play with your queue or support charity and local business?

Great vibe! James is an extraordinary man, a real bodhisattva. This is the last of the mom and pop stores, part of a vanishing America. Appreciate it while you can.

Great place in the hood. James is the man. I’ll update ASAP.

I use Netflix mostly, probably because I got sick of all the BS associated with the big (and dying) rental stores. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a local, friendly rental spot when I moved to Normal Heights. The owner is funny and helpful, and was very forgiving when I called to ask for more time on my rental «Don’t worry about it, man. Bring it tomorrow on your way to work.»
I was looking for a DVD that I could not find anywhere else (Tron), and he called me as soon as it became available. Also, their selection is immense, and their prices are very reasonable.
I guess I will start renting again!
Anyone who says the owner is rude, has no sense of humor. He’s just having a good time and poking a few jabs in the process.
Lighten up Nancies!

Great prices and a good selection! It’s true… others have said that the owner will recognize you after only a few visits and sure enough he no longer needed my card or phone number to ring me up. I honestly hate waiting for movies in the mail, and why would i pay six bucks at blockbuster for a bluray when I know i’m going to watch it that night? the prices here are exactly what you’d expect to pay for a 1 or 2 night rental. Vintage movies, indie movies, kung-​fu movies, a special room in the back (the reason why he’s in business and not Hollywood video or bankrupt blockbuster). This place has quite a selection for such a small spot. It should be considered a privilege to have this place in this neighborhood nestled amongst bars, restaurants, boutiques and everything else the Adams ave strip is flooded with. I realize that Kensington is way down on the other end but James holds his own on West end. I pass by sometimes and think «Hey you know what movie I haven’t seen in a while…» and then I go there and James has it. No waiting for the mail. No re-​arranging my queue surfing the net for it. So don’t forgot about the little guys like this when you pass by.

Great selections. Have alot of indie movies. Some movies have a thumbs up sticker indicating a good-pick…not necessarily 100% accurate.

love the location, love the prices, love james, and super duper love the candy selection!!!
:)

Completely Video is a total reflection of the small town feel of Normal Heights. Renting a video for less thatn 2 buck and the owner knows you by name. Owner is so nice and helpful! Love this place!

if only we could have found willow here…
other than a lack in selection, this place is the best video store ever. james is the man and you can hear all the fencing action going on above in the porno section.

I love this place. I hardly rent from a store these days thanks to Netflix but when in need this is where I go. The owner should be considered for sainthood. Then he could be Patron Saint of Movie Rentals and I would wear a medallion in his image around my neck. Not only is he very nice but he’s got info on a charity he supports up front which is further proof of his all around generosity.
For the money-​minded folks this extends in to very low cost rental fees and he’s understanding about late returns. One time I was like 3 weeks late but James said it’s not like any one was going to rent the old-​school Samurai series I checked out. How sweet is that!
It’s an itty bitty place but is not lacking in a pretty wide variety of movie genres. My brother liked to get films from the «Urban» section just because of the titled genre. Also, like I mentioned they had that obscure Samurai series.
Honestly, I love it for the nostalgia too. It reminds me of the local video store my dad took me to all the time to rent no, not Disney movies, but rather kung fu flicks and sci-​fi films (nerd-​in-​training!) We went so much that my dad became friends with the owner and they would chat all the time. He was a nice guy, too just like James.

Let’s support the small business owners!
I love this place, James (the owner) is so nice and remembers all of his customers that come in.
Also the have a wide selection of 18 and up dvd’s. :)
You will find me in here every weekend :)

Awesome, cheapy little video place around the corner from my apartment. (I just realized that if I keep alluding to the fact that I Iive only blocks from these businesses, some Unilocaly stalker is gonna show up at my door and it’ll only be my own fault. Oh! Idea for a cheesy horror screenplay anyone?!)
The owner is always pleasant and despite the difficulties I have in finding certain titles, he never seems to have any. He also knows right away when he doesn’t have something available which puts Blockbuster and their computers to shame. Patrick and I can always find something good in the New Releases and rental fees are so cheap. I have yet to check out the selection behind the inconspicuous «Adult» curtain, but I am certainly intrigued.
I also have to say I enjoy the cheap candy selection at the register. Those rainbow candy strips make me happy when I need a tiny sugar fix. Some days I just want to come in, shuffle around silently, pick something, and leave sans conversation. This little indie locale saves me from having to interact with chain employees. I refuse to look like I care about hygiene just to go to the damn video store when the sole purpose of the journey is only so I can throw my sweats back on, hook up my root beer IV, and veg.

James really made us feel like home when we moved to Normal Heights. What a great small business to support! He makes a point to know all of his customers and provides excellent service, even if his selection is small.
Now that we’ve moved away, we switched to Netflix since walking into a Blockbuster just isn’t the same.

James, the owner of Completely Video, was one of the first local business owners to make me feel welcome in Normal Heights. He is a genuine, warm, knowledgeable businessman and we love supporting his store in the face of Netflix. I do realize of course that Kensington Video just down the road cannot be beat for their selection but there’s just something about James’ place that I love. It’s got that kind of old school Video Library (any San Diegans remember that place?) feel to it complete with a little seedy backroom curtained off from the general public so you can peruse the fairly decent porn selection with the other pervies. There’s even a cut out window in the backroom so you can hand James your viddies on the sly without having to carry ‘Brazilian Booty Bangers’ or ‘Debbie Does Detroit’ around the shop. Clever.
We love James and we love this shop. Damn Netflix!

I lived with a dude for awhile during my year or so in Normal Heights. I’m pretty sure he had a membership to Completely Video and I’m doubly sure that’s where he got most of the porn he’d bring home.
This place is a blast from the past. If you’re into supporting small, local businesses – or you’re into porn – I recommend checking it out.