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Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Image 2 of 23 The staff of Weirdo Video, plus their pup. The staff of Weirdo Video, plus their pup. Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 3 of 23 The Weirdo Video logo, designed by Houston music notable Michael Haaga. The Weirdo Video logo, designed by Houston music notable Michael Haaga. Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 4 of 23 Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 5 of 23 Image 6 of 23 Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 7 of 23 Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 8 of 23 Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 9 of 23 Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 10 of 23 Image 11 of 23 Photo: Weirdo Video handout Image 12 of 23 Alejandro Jodorowsky's "El Topo" continues to convert young film students into disciples. Alejandro Jodorowsky's "El Topo" continues to convert young film students into disciples. Image 13 of 23 John Nance plays Henry in "Eraserhead", one of David Lynch's most enduring pieces of cinema. John Nance plays Henry in "Eraserhead", one of David Lynch's most enduring pieces of cinema. Image 14 of 23 Russ Meyer, who has been called "King of the Nudies," known for directing films such as "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," a sequel to the studio's big grossing "Valley of the Dolls.", "The Immoral Mr. Teas," "Erotia," and "Wild Gals of the Naked West," "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!' and "Vixen". Expect his films at Weirdo too. less Russ Meyer, who has been called "King of the Nudies," known for directing films such as "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," a sequel to the studio's big grossing "Valley of the Dolls.", "The Immoral Mr. Teas," ... more Photo: AP Image 15 of 23 Image 16 of 23 The earliest works of some our most famed directors will be emphasized at Weirdo Video. Not many have seen Steven Spielberg's "Duel". The earliest works of some our most famed directors will be emphasized at Weirdo Video. Not many have seen Steven Spielberg's "Duel". Photo: Universal Studios Image 17 of 23 The works of director John Waters will be staples on the shelves of Weirdo Video. The works of director John Waters will be staples on the shelves of Weirdo Video. Photo: Bravo Image 18 of 23 Director Todd Solondz's films aren't for everyone, populated with creeps and deranged folks that will still likely enthrall. Director Todd Solondz's films aren't for everyone, populated with creeps and deranged folks that will still likely enthrall. Photo: Ben DeSoto / HOUSTON CHRONICLE Image 19 of 23 James Taylor's hippie film "Two Lane Blacktop" is a must-see, at least for the period feel. James Taylor's hippie film "Two Lane Blacktop" is a must-see, at least for the period feel. Image 20 of 23 Image 21 of 23 1932's "Freaks" still rubs some viewers the wrong way, over eight decades on. 1932's "Freaks" still rubs some viewers the wrong way, over eight decades on. Image 22 of 23 Documentary director Errol Morris' films are thought-provoking and strong. Documentary director Errol Morris' films are thought-provoking and strong. Photo: HERMANN J. KNIPPERTZ / AP Image 23 of 23 Couple opens Weirdo Video store near the Heights 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

A husband and wife team of self-described film geeks from Memphis, Tenn. have opened a modest video store in the front of their Cottage Grove home.

Allison and Chris Walker want to evoke the spirit of some of their favorite cult video stores across the country under their own roof.

In a landscape of Redbox kiosks in front of every grocery store, a NetFlix account on every laptop, the husks of Hollywood and Blockbuster stores littering the city, and illegal torrent sites where you can download every Best Picture Oscar nominee, opening a brick and mortar video store seems like a futile, potentially disastrous pursuit.

The Walker’s Weirdo Video is located in a three-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood just blocks from T.C. Jester. They opened on Tuesday and had one customer, a neighbor who wanted to see if she could use their WiFi.

“We hope that Weirdo Video will allow us to integrate into the community and meet like-minded film geeks,” says Walker, who does A/V work for the Houston Rockets when he’s not at his home-slash-video store with his wife.

The Walkers came to Houston in 2011 and found that they couldn’t find the movies they wanted to see at any outlet around Houston. In Memphis, there was Black Lodge Video, whicg catered to avant-garde residents who wanted to rent their favorite John Waters gross-outs and captivating Errol Morris documentaries instead of big-budget Hollywood CGI jobs and romantic comedies with interchangeable blondes.

“If we could be to Houston what Black Lodge is to Memphis, it will be a special thing for a lot of people,” says Walker. “Always changing and evolving.”

For many, the last great outside-the-box video store in Houston was Audio/Video Plus on Waugh — where you could find most anything or get it special-ordered. Movies! The Store was a popular haunt, but it’s now a hair salon. Cactus Music’s last incarnation on Shepherd had a much-beloved video rental section that went away, never to return once they reopened on Portsmouth down the street.

In regards to VHS tapes, Walker says you won’t find them at Weirdo unless they are extremely rare or of greater interest. Walker would like to make Weirdo a hub for fans of outsider cinema in Houston, complete with monthly get-togethers, theme nights, and special appearances by luminaries from the stranger of Hollywood. In Memphis, Walker used to book appearances by the like of Waters, Neil Hamburger and Crispin Glover. Hamburger has offered to appear in a commercial for the store next time he comes to town.

As for the expense of opening a video store, it’s not as bad as one would think.

“DVDs are a low risk venture,” says Walker. “The average investment per DVD is five bucks, so one rental and it’s almost paid for.” A film critic friend in Memphis supplied the store with “two barrels” of films from his own screening collection, which helped out with the Weirdo catalog. Walker and his wife also scour Amazon and eBay for rare films for the shop.

The Walkers want to keep costs down, only taking credit and debit cards, and setting dirt-cheap rental prices. A four-day rental will set you back $4. After that, you start getting charged an additional dollar a day.

“We’ll be more forgiving than Red Box when it comes to late fees,” Walker says. As always, be kind and return promptly.

Walker is especially proud of his director’s wall, where a customer could conceivably rent every available film from a director’s filmography for your own Werner Herzog marathon at home. That goes for mainstream directors too. Walker is fascinated with the lesser-known works in a director’s canon, like Steven Spielberg.

“You can rent ‘Raiders of The Lost Ark’ but also finally see ‘Duel’, which was one of his first flicks,” Walker says.

Walker’s friend Michael Haaga — late of local Houston bands deadhorse (the first time around) and The Plus and Minus Show — designed the store’s logo, lending the store some Houston street cred.

If Weirdo doesn’t work out and the business tanks, Walker says there are worse fates than being stuck at home with thousands of movies.

“If it fails, the worst thing that will happen is my wife and I will be sitting in our house watching movies by ourselves, which pretty much describes the last nine years of our relationship,” he laughs.