PORT TOWNSEND — Retailer Hollywood Video has signed a lease with a Kirkland-based developer to open a 5,600-square-foot East Sims Way store by July, a corporate representative confirmed.
Facing a wave of local opposition, Hollywood Video officials had remained silent about their plans until Tuesday.
Hollywood Video spokesman Scott Allpress said the Wilsonville, Ore., company had only heard about the opposition through the developer, No Wine Left LLC.
“We are not going to comment on the issue pertaining to the community reaction,” said Allpress.
“We are not going to hop into the fray.”
Boycott vowed
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Port Townsend group, Stop Hollywood Video, has vowed that its 3,400 petition-signing supporters will boycott the chain store when it opens.
“The battle isn’t over yet,” said Ian Hinkle, the group’s leader.
“Hollywood Video lacks an understanding of this community. With 3,500 members who pledged to boycott their store, they are still coming to the community that has expressed clearly the desire not to have them here.”
During the past three months, the group has launched a movement against Hollywood Video, complete with a Web site, www.stophollywoodvideo.com.
Hollywood Video plans to take up a half of the former lumber company building at the corner of Kearney Street and Sims Way which is undergoing major renovation.
The Port Townsend video store will not include a Game Crazy video game outlet, found in most Hollywood Video stores, and will probably operate normal hours until midnight, Allpress said.
Next door to video store
The Hollywood Video location is next door to Movies Plus, one of Port Townsend’s three independently owned video outlets.
As planned, the Hollywood Video store would be at the opposite end of the building, farthest from Movies Plus, city officials said.
Earlier this month, the city issued a permit to improve the space inside the former Port Townsend Lumber building, 2219 Sims Way.
The city collected $1,500 in permit application fees.