New Businesses

Video Express Grand Opening celebration Saturday, May 8th

May 10, 2010 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

What do two business men do when they see an opportunity? Seize the moment- and seize the moment is just what Todd Burchell and Lee Tidwell did when a local movie rental business closed its doors at the end of March.

Tidwell, who had been the manager of Movie Gallery in Spring Hill, was facing an unfortunate situation. He, along with the employees he managed, would be losing their jobs. Burchell happened to visit during the going-out-of-business sale. Tidwell was working that day and the two began a discussion. Having also been the manager of a video store in Lewisburg before coming to Spring Hill, Tidwell’s knowledge of the business was evident. Their discussion led to many others and soon plans had begun for Burchell to open Video Express in the Neapolis area, with Tidwell as manager.

Burchell’s entrepreneur drive and Tidwell’s managerial skills appear to be quite a match. In less than a month the new video store opened in the Shoppes of Neapolis. Burchell is also owner of the recently opened Nolan’s Bar-B-Que, located in the same shopping center.

Tidwell responds to those who ask how a video store will compete with not only other video stores but competitors such as Redbox and Netflix. He says most companies have limits on new releases, but Video Express will have them on the video release date. He also boasts that movie fans will have a phenomenal selection, including not only new releases, but older titles as well, with close to 3,000 movies in the store. The men are pleased that they are able to provide those in the area with a local movie rental business where the service is friendly and the prices are affordable. “We knew the community would be missing out with the loss of a convenient place to rent movies. We wanted to fill that void,” said Tidwell.

A grand opening celebration for Video Express and Nolan’s Bar-B-Que is scheduled for Saturday, May 8th from 1-5p.m. Part of the fun will include free movie rentals with new memberships, great specials available on Bar-B-Que and live music from Boomer’s. There will be face painting for the children and a chance for Star Wars fans to visit with “Chewbacca.” For more information call (931) 486-1130.

BY WENDY SCHREIBER