White Bear Lake’s Parrot Video Celebrates 31 Years of Entertainment

Remember the days of eight-track cassettes? How about VHS tapes? Home entertainment technology seems to change almost as fast as you can say “iPad.” But over the years, one White Bear Lake video store has stayed relevant by focusing on the heart of home entertainment: the fun of watching movies with family and friends.
   
In 1982, Chuck Lowell was working as a commercial roofer and owned some rental properties in and around White Bear Lake. “Chuck saw these video stores popping up, and he had this perfect [retail] spot,” remembers his wife, Lori. “At the time, we were still dating, and I thought it was kind of a crazy idea. But we went for it.”
   
The Lowells readied the retail space for their new store, and officially opened Parrot Video in 1982, taking a leap of faith into a new, still untested industry. And their leap paid off—the little shop on First Street got off to an exciting and successful start. “It was so busy,” Lori Lowell remembers, as White Bear Lake neighbors stopped in once a week—or more—to pick up the latest flick.
   
During Parrot Video’s early days, it was truly a labor of love for the Lowells. The duo hired a few employees for daytime hours, and kept the store running themselves during late nights and weekends—all while continuing their day jobs. “We were working from about 10 a.m. to midnight in those days,” says Lowell. “It was just something we loved so much.”
   
As the popularity of home movies continued to grow, so did Parrot Video. The Lowells took over the other retail spaces in their building and expanded the store. They did sell the store briefly to relatives Larry and Gwen Rogney, who owned Parrot Video for 4 years. The Lowells bought it back and have run the business for the past 15 years.
            
Over the years, the business faced some stiff competition. “At one time in White Bear Lake, there were 28 video stores within a five-mile radius of Parrot Video,” remembers Lowell. “They were opening and closing, and it was very stressful. A lot of times we put [money back into the store] without taking any profit, but it was just a fun, fun business. It still is.”
   
And Parrot Video gets the last laugh—the store has so far outlasted every single video store that’s come and gone in White Bear Lake during its 32-year history. They’ve overcome other challenges, too, from reduced parking spaces outside the store to the advent of DVDs and console video game systems. “There’s always something new,” says Lowell. “That’s always challenging, to be up on what’s coming and figure out which system everyone’s going to go to.”
   
With the advent of high-speed internet and online streaming services, the use of physical video media has taken a nosedive. Lowell notes, however, that film studios are trying to give video stores a leg up by releasing DVDs early to shops like Parrot Video, sometimes a whole month before those films are available to stream online. “We’ll have a market for a while yet,” Lowell says. “I think there are still people who just want to go and get a movie to watch on the same night.”
   
Those customers are at the heart of Parrot Video’s success. “We have real faithful customers,” says Lowell. “I’ve gotten to know so many people—it’s like a family.”
   
One of those long-time customers is Connie Kerstetter, who’s been visiting Parrot Video since she was a teenager in the 1980s. “You can get any movie you want,” says Kerstetter with a smile. “You can get new movies, or old movies you haven’t seen. I’m glad there’s still a [video store] around.”
   
And Kerstetter is passing her video-store love to the next generation. “My four kids love going up there,” she says. “They ride their bikes to the store and pick their movies. [The Lowells] are just great people.”
   
So what are you waiting for? Stop by Parrot Video to grab your favorite flick and settle in for an old-school movie night. Don’t forget the popcorn.