I remember growing up in the 80's and 90's and always going to the local Blockbuster on the weekend with the whole family. We would see people from the neighborhood, church, or school. I love the streaming at my fingertips, but I am a little bummed that my kids will not experience that.
My brother has worked for this Blockbuster since he was 15 (he's 22 now) and has seen 4 other stores close in the surrounding area over the last decade. Someone tried to buy out the Bend stores a few years back when Blockbuster went bankrupt but the area franchise owner (who happens to be my brother's mom and my stepmom) basically said "Nope, I want to be the last Blockbuster in the world." The other stores had to close due to lack of profit, but the location above is still consistently busy. Years later they're now filming a documentary at this location because it went from one of the most booming corporations in the 90s to a unique, independent single-store franchise. They still run the store almost exactly the same as they did 30 years ago (I think they even use the same computer system) and have taken care of the pictured Blockbuster much like someone takes care of an old car. Some quick fun facts:
No, you can no longer rent VCR tapes but they do sell old used ones.
The oldest video games I've seen at the store recently was a collection of PS3/X360 titles but nothing before that.
Most revenue at the store comes from movie/game sales (not rentals), the same core group of "regulars" who have been renting there since before I was born, and MAINLY late fees (BB's business model has always been based around incurring penalties).
They still have the same gumball/pinball machine that has never made me feel like a winner.
The movie theater candy they sell is dirt cheap and the instant popcorn they have is a brand I've never recognized or seen elsewhere (I don't even know how the hell they get it).
While I've never confirmed this, I'm pretty sure the weird "theft protector" you pass through on the way out doesn't actually do anything. All the magnetic security strips in the movie cases have been deactivated so only the plastic security cases (think razors at the supermarket) trigger them, but the cases are rarely used. Plus, there's only empty cases on the shelf and they don't give you the discs until you're walking out the door, so my theory is the detectors used to work, they became outdated, now they're just for show.
The "Kid's Room" was replaced with the "Children's Section" at most BB locations because unattended children would destroy the rooms and some locations even had adults that would shoot up next to The Lion King and Land Before Time (not this store though).
And finally:
Yes, it still smells like your brain is telling you it does. It's the carpet.
“Our return slot handle has been baking in sun all day and it's been burning up people's hands (2nd degree burns) so please bring your rentals inside or use the oven mitt we left on the ledge.”
“We can't afford fireworks this year but Chad's gonna light the alley couch on fire around 9:30 tomorrow night if you want to see a couch on fire.”
“Our delivery service only applies to customers who are physically bedridden or legally unable to leave their property.”
Whoshabooboo on July 13rd, 2018 at 15:22 UTC »
I remember growing up in the 80's and 90's and always going to the local Blockbuster on the weekend with the whole family. We would see people from the neighborhood, church, or school. I love the streaming at my fingertips, but I am a little bummed that my kids will not experience that.
Jinx-the-MadQueen on July 13rd, 2018 at 18:51 UTC »
My brother has worked for this Blockbuster since he was 15 (he's 22 now) and has seen 4 other stores close in the surrounding area over the last decade. Someone tried to buy out the Bend stores a few years back when Blockbuster went bankrupt but the area franchise owner (who happens to be my brother's mom and my stepmom) basically said "Nope, I want to be the last Blockbuster in the world." The other stores had to close due to lack of profit, but the location above is still consistently busy. Years later they're now filming a documentary at this location because it went from one of the most booming corporations in the 90s to a unique, independent single-store franchise. They still run the store almost exactly the same as they did 30 years ago (I think they even use the same computer system) and have taken care of the pictured Blockbuster much like someone takes care of an old car. Some quick fun facts:
No, you can no longer rent VCR tapes but they do sell old used ones.
The oldest video games I've seen at the store recently was a collection of PS3/X360 titles but nothing before that.
Most revenue at the store comes from movie/game sales (not rentals), the same core group of "regulars" who have been renting there since before I was born, and MAINLY late fees (BB's business model has always been based around incurring penalties).
They still have the same gumball/pinball machine that has never made me feel like a winner.
The movie theater candy they sell is dirt cheap and the instant popcorn they have is a brand I've never recognized or seen elsewhere (I don't even know how the hell they get it).
While I've never confirmed this, I'm pretty sure the weird "theft protector" you pass through on the way out doesn't actually do anything. All the magnetic security strips in the movie cases have been deactivated so only the plastic security cases (think razors at the supermarket) trigger them, but the cases are rarely used. Plus, there's only empty cases on the shelf and they don't give you the discs until you're walking out the door, so my theory is the detectors used to work, they became outdated, now they're just for show.
The "Kid's Room" was replaced with the "Children's Section" at most BB locations because unattended children would destroy the rooms and some locations even had adults that would shoot up next to The Lion King and Land Before Time (not this store though).
And finally:
Yes, it still smells like your brain is telling you it does. It's the carpet.
bobvex on July 13rd, 2018 at 19:23 UTC »
The last blockbuster twitter account is fucking hilarious.
https://mobile.twitter.com/loneblockbuster?lang=en
Some recent tweets...
“Our return slot handle has been baking in sun all day and it's been burning up people's hands (2nd degree burns) so please bring your rentals inside or use the oven mitt we left on the ledge.”
“We can't afford fireworks this year but Chad's gonna light the alley couch on fire around 9:30 tomorrow night if you want to see a couch on fire.”
“Our delivery service only applies to customers who are physically bedridden or legally unable to leave their property.”