MONROE — On Oct. 1, 2010, Family Video took over 100 W. 8th Street after the former Movie Gallery store closed.

Now, less than a decade later, the rental store has suffered the same fate. Its closure Thursday was highlighted by empty racks surrounding a large dumpster at the side of the building while the wind pushed around a store sale sign indicating all materials were available for customers to buy at reduced prices.

One longtime customer was perusing the aisles in the weeks before the store closed, grabbing a few favorites while also buying a few TV series she had not yet seen. Whitney Hansel of Orangeville said she and her family come to Monroe for almost all of their errands, including renting movies. 

“We probably come at least once a week if not more often,” Hansel said, adding that she was “really disappointed” when she saw the sign on the door that the store would close during one of her visits.

“It’s nice to still have someplace to go where you can get a physical copy and browse,” Hansel said. “We were really disappointed.”

In the digital age of downloads, Family Video has been holding steady in its business, continuing at 700 stores throughout the country. One reason, company president Keith Hoogland has said in past statements, is due to buying store spaces rather than leasing them. Blockbuster, which is now essentially defunct, made leasing common practice in its business model. However, the Monroe building is owned by local resident Greg Fedders of Creative Property Enterprises LLC, while the business is owned by Family Video’s corporation Highland Venture.

Assistant Store Manager Corinne Frutiger said the closure was due to a lease issue. The space will be occupied by a new tenant, but Frutiger said she did not know what will replace Family Video.

Frutiger, who has been a Family Video employee for more than eight years, said she and many other employees have committed part of their lives to the smaller store in Monroe as they have pursued other careers at the same time.

“It’s sort of a secondary job for most of us just because it’s enjoyable,” Frutiger said. 

Most of the employees will likely simply keep their other jobs and bid a final goodbye to Family Video unless their hopes of a store relocation are realized, Frutiger said. She added that to “suddenly be done is a little weird” since she has been working for the company since she was 18 years old. 

Frutiger said a number of customers had been entering the store as racks became increasingly empty and eventually open floor space dominated. Visitors have expressed disappointment similar to Hansel, Frutiger said. 

“I think it’s something people in our community really like,” Frutiger said, adding that employees have built a “good relationship” with customers. “It’s sad to see it go.”