Bio

Cincinnati’s only independently-owned arthouse video rental store – Bughouse Video - had its grand opening in Northside at 4170 Hamilton Avneue on Saturday, December 4, 2004.

While large chain video stores dominate the industry, Bughouse Video expects to fill the niche for less mainstream films that are off the beaten path according to owners Brian and Jessica Andrews-Griffin. In fact, Cincinnati is one of the few major U.S. cities without their own independent video rental store.

The Bughouse Video owners see themselves as people who know movies – Jessica developed a strong customer base with her film and actor recommendations at an independent video store she worked for in Chicago in the early 90s. Brian has over 20 years of theatre experience as playwright, actor, and director at the Ensemble Theatre, Performance Gallery and Dad’s Garage Theatre in Atlanta.

What makes Bughouse different than mainstream chain video rental stores? The owners’ knowledge of films and their collection of art, cult, and spoofy documentary films will provide customers with new opportunities. Bughouse will rent mainly DVDs but will have some VHS for non-conversion films.

Northside was chosen as the ideal location for Bughouse Video since the eclectic community has a diversity of residents as well as its being the home of the Andrews-Griffins.