I plan on visiting New York City for the first time since about 1977 when I was 10 years old. I would like to hit some movie stores other than the usual Best Buys and Circuit City. I would appreciate any advice on where to go for some hard to find cult/horror DVDs or even VHS, hopefully without getting mugged. :P (My visions of NYC have been colored by movies like Maniac and C.H.U.D.)

It's hardly a cult store, but I bet you'll find quite a few NY Mobians at J&R Music World, on Park Row near City Hall. Me, for example.

Is the Liquidation Outlet on 14th still open? I haven't lived in NYC since 2004 but that was always good hunting. Then there's Mondo Kim's on St. Mark's Place, east of 4th Avenue. I'd also suggest J&R Music on Park Row, although I went there infrequently (not purposely avoiding Bob or anything).

Yup.

Entertainment Outlet's still around (14th St. & 6th Ave., with another store at 40th St. & 5th Ave., I think). Lots of used DVD and VHS bargains (VHS around two bucks each, with a lot of turnover). Across the street and toward 7th Ave. is a shop that often puts out New Releases weeks before the street date (for the impatient among us).


Mondo Kim's should definitely be your first destination stop (it's actually just east of 3rd Ave., at St. Marks Place).

I haven't brick-and-mortared in some time, but can say with some assurance that the likelihood of your being CHUD-ed in Manhattan is slight. Brooklyn I can't vouch for. :) But come out anyway and trek the outer boroughs, which are more the in thing anyway.

There's a Kim's on Christopher Street, between Seventh Avenue and Bleecker. There's also an odd, intelligent little store nearby with an interesting selection of titles on Seventh, a few blocks north of Sheridan Square, on the the east side of the avenue as you make your way up toward 13th Street.

This store has acheived sentience?! Why, that must mean it's happening all over! :blink:

It's the beginning of CLOVERFIELD 2! You didn't know? ;)

Thanks for the tips guys! I'll probably be there from a Thursday through Saturday and should have time to check some of these out even with my wife's sight seeing and shopping plans.

I don't know if you're into Asian films at all, but you can find many of the lastest Hong Kong, Korean and Japanese DVD releases (all Hong Kong imports, some Region 3, some all-region) down in Chinatown at three stores on the Bowery between Hester and Canal, all on the same block. Prices are good too: most DVDs are well under $20. No tax if you pay cash. There's Lai Ying at 89 Bowery, Lai Lai at 85 Bowery and NY Music and Gifts right on the corner of Bowery and Canal.