Following a successful pop-up with Criterion during TIFF this past September, Cinema Cellar has reopened its doors permanently, bringing a curated selection of physical media and merchandise from leading labels, including the Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, Arrow Video, and more, to Toronto’s Entertainment District.
Located at 129 John Street, the brick-and-mortar shop offers film lovers a dedicated space to browse, discover, collect, and connect over a shared love of cinema. From restored classics and special editions to collectible packaging and film merchandise, Cinema Cellar celebrates the unique experience of bringing movies home.
The reopening came just in time for National Video Store Day on October 17, which celebrated the resurgence of collecting physical media and the joy of discovering films in person.
With its permanent home in the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District, Cinema Cellar is set to become a year-round destination for dedicated cinephile collectors and casual moviegoers alike, offering a place to discover new favourites and revisit cult classics.
The idea for a permanent store
Cinema Cellar President Dave Hudakoc said the idea for the permanent store really came from TIFF 2025 when it worked with the Criterion Collection to bring their Mobile Closet for its first ever stop outside of the US.
“The demand was extensive and due to capacity, we had to turn away many people. But it was the first sign for us that a brick & mortar physical media location could thrive here in Toronto’s Entertainment District. When we saw the space at 129 John Street available late last year, the idea became a reality,” explained Hudakoc.
“We then worked quickly through the spring and summer to prepare the store and pitched Criterion on an expanded presence at TIFF this year, followed by a permanent home for their titles. Along with our other label partners, such as Arrow Video, Kino Lorber and others, we’ve all seen the demand for physical media boom over the last few years. But, in particular, Toronto has an incredible affinity for the format, which you can see through the many other great stores in the city, like Bay Street Video and Vinegar Syndrome. It’s extremely exciting and we are thrilled to be located where we are to serve the film fans going to TIFF Lightbox or Scotiabank Theatre.”
Evolution of the market
Hudakoc spent the first half of his career in home entertainment, and for him it’s been amazing to see the resurgence physical media is having.
“Many purists would say it never went away, but certainly it has evolved from a mass-demand focused business into a smaller, dedicated customer base. People love the convenience of streaming but seek the tangibility and permanence that owning a physical film provides,” he said.
“We’ve seen this trend in the music space for the last 10 years, and we are now starting to see that trend happen in movies. Streaming is the most convenient evolution to hit the film business, but when you connect so deeply with a film, having that physical copy on your shelf as a representation of your personality can’t be matched.”
Retail strategy and product curation
The brick & mortar store is a physical reflection of the store’s website (www.cinemacellar.com).
“We can serve the entire country online, giving customers access to our entire catalog of over 18,000 titles and growing. Having that operational base—our own warehouse and team—and the nimbleness it provides allows us to take swings,” said Hudakoc.
“Our position as an all rights distribution company, Blue Fox Canada. Because we acquire rights to individual films—releasing them in theatres, streaming and on disc—we can stay close to the filmmaking community and create events and experiences through the films and filmmakers we work with. We also attend all the major film markets, including the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, the American Film Market, and obviously TIFF. This allows us to sit down with any company that controls film rights to understand where those rights have landed, especially if they aren’t already with one of our amazing partners.”
Target customer
Broadly, there are 2 customers: The purists, who have always collected and will never stop, and those who have only recently explored physical media and are discovering why it was so popular to begin with.
“Because of these bases, in-person discovery and community are everything to us. Many people never had the chance to experience a Blockbuster, walking the aisles and picking up a film. We want to bring that nostalgia to our customers, or allow them to experience it for the first time. Movies can be deeply personal and it makes the team and me so happy to see two people in our store meeting and connecting over a shared love of a certain film or director,” said Hudakoc.
Business priorities
The store’s priorities are rooted in growth, but it will pursue it in a way that aligns with its community.
“We’ve already had a steady stream of interest in bringing Cinema Cellar to other areas of Canada, so I can absolutely see us going beyond Toronto in 2027 to give other parts of the country the opportunity to experience shopping our shelves. Whether that’s a pop-up or a permanent home is likely the main discussion, which is a welcome one to have. Regarding Toronto and our website, we are already working on some exciting events and expanded partnerships, which will be announced shortly, just in time for the holidays,” said Hudakoc.
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