Staff photo by Fritz Busch Erick and Collin Lemke are liquidating inventory and the Family Video store in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — Customers flocked to the Family Video store, 701 N. Broadway, over the weekend, taking advantage of a going-out-of-business sale.

Family Video advertised itself on Facebook as the nation’s largest movie, game and TV show rental chain, with more than 500 stores in North America. The New Ulm store also sells CBD oil.

Store manger Erick Lemke posted on Facebook that after 11 years in New Ulm, everything in the building will be sold at clearance prices. Store hours are 2 to 8 p.m. daily.

A Norwood-Young America native, Lemke has worked part-time on nights and weekends at the store for four years and as manager for almost two years. He works as a NUVERA call center technician during the day.

“It was fun being able to talk to people in the store,” Lemke said. “Most of them walked in happy. The store had thousands of discs of all types. Some people like old stuff, some like new releases.”

His son Collin has worked in the store and said things won’t be the same without it.

“It’s been fun being here, meeting the people,” Collin said.

Sam Schwark of New Ulm said he enjoyed renting 1980s comedies, something he feels may be harder to find with the store closing in the coming weeks.

“I like older comedies. They’re cleaner than the newer ones,” Schwark said. “It’s a bummer there will not be another video place like this in the area. And I hate to see a business close. We bought and rented videos.”

Schwark’s son Malachi said he enjoyed getting action movies at the store that are getting tougher to find.

Justin Hillesheim of Springfield said he enjoyed the Game of Thrones TV series, role-playing games and science fiction movies.

“I really like this store. It’s sad to see it close,” Hillesheim said. “I like renting a movie for a few dollars rather than buying it for $60.

Dawn Bleick of Fairfax drove her daughter to the store.

“I’m sad to see it go. I like watching movies, especially John Wayne movies,” Bleick said. “I don’t like scary movies.”

For more information, visit familyvideo.com.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.