 The chain entered the market to fill the demand for VHS cassette rental (fresh from the format's victory with rival format Betamax) for viewing in newly acquired videocassette recorders (VCRs).The chain suffered throughout the 1990s, however, due to increased competition from competitors such as Blockbuster Video and Superclub Vidéotron, and the decreased profitability of the video rental business.The Avenue Video chain dwindled to just two locations by the end of the decade.