Cinema Cellar is officially opening its permanent storefront in Toronto’s Entertainment District today, October 16, bringing a curated selection of Blu-rays, 4K UHD films, special editions and movie merchandise to 129 John Street. Following a popular collaboration with the Criterion Collection during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the new shop will give movie lovers a place to discover films, build their collections and connect with Toronto’s film community.

The opening comes just ahead of National Video Store Day on October 17, at a time when physical media is finding renewed interest among film enthusiasts who want more than what streaming services can offer.

For Cinema Cellar President Dave Hudakoc, the decision to open a physical location was about filling a gap in the city’s Entertainment District.

“Toronto has such an amazing physical media community – from Bay Street Video to Vinegar Syndrome – there are amazing locations and offerings around the city,” said Hudakoc. “But we realized there was not something in Toronto’s Entertainment District that could act as a base to serve the cinema crowds who regularly go to TIFF Lightbox and Scotiabank Theatre.”

The John Street location serves as an extension of Cinema Cellar’s existing online store, giving customers the opportunity to browse shelves of films from labels including the Criterion Collection, Arrow Video and Kino Lorber.

From TIFF Pop-Up to Permanent Storefront

Cinema Cellar’s opening follows two years of collaborations with the Criterion Collection during TIFF.

In 2025, the company helped bring the Criterion Mobile Closet to Toronto for its first appearance outside the United States. The activation attracted significant interest, with film fans lining up along King Street.

Building on that success, Cinema Cellar partnered with Criterion again during TIFF 2026, this time transforming its future storefront into a dedicated Criterion Collection pop-up.

“Over the ten days of TIFF we had close to 8,000 people visit the store and the TIFF launch only further cemented our feeling that a physical media presence in this area would work,” Hudakoc explained.

The response reinforced the company’s belief that Toronto’s downtown film community could support a permanent retail destination dedicated to collecting movies.

Why Physical Movies Are Making a Comeback

While streaming services have transformed how audiences watch movies, Hudakoc believes film collecting is experiencing a resurgence similar to the renewed popularity of vinyl records.

“People love the convenience of streaming but are looking for both permanency and tangibility that physical media allows,” he said. “If you love a film, it represents you and you want it on your shelf.”

For collectors, owning a movie is often about more than simply having access to the film. Boutique labels such as Criterion and Arrow Video specialize in carefully restored editions, high-quality picture and sound, extensive supplemental features and collectible packaging.

“Collectors want the definitive version of a film – The best possible picture resolution & sound (ideally Director Approved), special features that take you further into what went into making the film and stories from behind the scenes, and packaging that stands out – a piece of art in itself,” Hudakoc explained.

Physical ownership also offers something that streaming cannot always guarantee: continued access to a favourite film.

With licensing agreements changing and titles frequently moving between platforms or disappearing from streaming catalogues, collectors can build personal libraries that are not dependent on subscription services.

Hudakoc believes those changes have helped renew interest in physical releases, particularly as more films become available in 4K UHD.

A New Generation of Film Collectors

One of the more encouraging discoveries for Cinema Cellar has been the diversity of customers interested in physical movies.

Although longtime collectors remain an important part of the market, Hudakoc says younger audiences have been particularly enthusiastic about discovering films on disc.

“For the most part, it is younger audiences, who are new to the format, discovering the films they love on disc for the first time,” he said. “The younger crowds are driving this current wave, but have added to the long-time collectors who never wavered from physical media.”

That combination of new and established collectors is something Cinema Cellar hopes to encourage through its storefront.

Rather than simply replicating the experience of shopping online, the store is designed around browsing, discovering unfamiliar titles and exchanging recommendations with other film lovers.

“Getting lost going through our shelves, picking up a title and looking at it, having a conversation about movies – these are part of the experience at Cinema Cellar,” Hudakoc said.

He also sees the shop as a natural extension of Toronto’s existing film culture, particularly given its proximity to TIFF Lightbox, Scotiabank Theatre and the city’s many festivals and independent screenings.

“There is nothing better than to see two customers talking cinema in our store and making recommendations to each other,” he added.

Criterion, Arrow Video and Upcoming Releases

Cinema Cellar’s shelves feature a substantial selection of films from boutique distributors, with Hudakoc noting that the store carries nearly the entire Criterion Collection catalogue for which the label holds Canadian distribution rights.

The shop also stocks selections from Arrow Video, Kino Lorber and other labels, with additional titles available through its website.

Among the anticipated releases is Criterion’s The Complete Kubrick collection, arriving October 20.

Hudakoc, a fan of director Sidney Lumet, is also particularly enthusiastic about Criterion’s 4K releases of Network and 12 Angry Men.

Other upcoming releases highlighted by Cinema Cellar include Bullitt, The Right Stuff, Wild at Heart, K-Pop Demon Hunters and the Canadian film Blue Heron.

Looking ahead, Hudakoc hopes Cinema Cellar will develop into more than a place to purchase movies. The company is already working on community events, collaborations and opportunities involving film industry talent.

For now, the focus is on establishing a welcoming destination where film lovers can rediscover the experience of visiting a video store.

“Some things in life require you to slowdown, and taking the time to appreciate the quality of work that goes into your favourite film is one of them,” Hudakoc said.

Cinema Cellar opens October 16 at 129 John Street in Toronto’s Entertainment District, just ahead of National Video Store Day on October 17.

For more information and to browse the collection online, visit www.cinemacellar.com.