As we reported yesterday, Leo's Videos, Kelowna's last video store will live on. As of February 1st, the store's ownership will change hands, with a 21-year-old employee taking the helm. 

"We worked on negotiations with 30 different people and a couple of my employees approached me a couple of months ago," said a clearly pleased Leo Bartels. "Over those few months, we've managed to negotiate a deal."

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The papers were signed Wednesday night. Taking ownership will be Nick Ksyniuk, who plans to run the store with his brother Alex. The pair have plans to add a board game section which may include playing tables. 

"We've structured the deal in a way that I get something out of their success," said Bartels, who has plans to become a middle school teacher. So even after the ownership changes hands, he envisions himself staying involved in the operation. "It's beneficial for me to stay involved, I always wanted to stay involved, I want the store to succeed."

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Leo's had been selling off videos and about 6000 titles were snapped-up as the price discounts increased, but that still leaves over 20,000 movies for people to choose from. "We're definitely one of the bigger stores in the country," said Bartels.

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And despite the disappearance of so many video stores, Bartels said video rentals have a future because they beat online rentals on price.

"When you rent multiple movies at one time, online you get no discount, here you get a discount," he said. "Say you want to rent a Disney movie online or some family film, you're still only getting two days for your rental, here you get seven days."

Photo credit: NowMedia

Photo credit: NowMedia

The location may change and so could the name, said Bartels. The business has lost its current lease, but may be able to find a spot in the existing building.