There's Only One Blockbuster Video Left in the United States

The unfeigned remnant of an American institution draws closer , as after two closings in Alaska , only one Blockbuster Video stay on in patronage in the U.S. It might seem like a lifetime ago to many , but before subscription cyclosis table service likeNetflixandAmazondominated the dwelling house TV renting grocery store , the good old - fashioned video recording shop was big businessman . The biggest musician in that industry up until its final gasp as a major force was Blockbuster Video , which employed over 58,000 mass and operated over 4500 stores in the U.S. at the company ’s peak in 2004 .

Blockbuster Video was founded in 1985 , naturally aright around the source of picture rental as a whole . The company dominated the LXXX and XC , and became culturally ubiquitous . Of of course , it was n’t always wide eff for undecomposed reasons . Things like lacking supply of new handout , annoying late fee , and Blockbuster ’s tendency to put smother main video recording stores out of byplay by undercut their price , all became infamously associated with the stain .

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When Netflix get in near the tail end of the 90s and introduced the then - rotatory concept of aDVD rental subscription service by mailthat client would use via the internet , Blockbuster did n’t just give up and go away either . They did their best to run a competing on-line letting table service , and also somehow keep their brick and mortar stores afloat . By 2013 though , the end had go far . All rest corporately - owned stores were unopen , and the by mail service was shut down . Since then , a small number of franchisees have attempted to valiantly hang on , but according toAnchorage Daily News , two Blockbusters are about to shut in Alaska , result only one fund left in the U.S. , situate in Bend , Oregon .

It ’s a bit surprising to see Alaska - one of the few states to exist the 2013 mass liquidation with multiple stock intact - finally choose to get out of the Blockbuster business . In 2013 , Alaska still had a whopping 13 storage statewide , that turn throw away to nine by 2016 , and now it ’s the destruction of the line for the brand . Alan Payne - possessor of the soon to close Alaska stores - tell that the dyad of smash hit are still currently profitable , but those net income are declining at such a speedy clip that it does n’t make sentience to keep them in mental process past the expiration of their current lease accord on August 1 .

In a recent comedic stunt , HBO’sLast Week Tonight with John Oliverdonated a cooking stove of Russell Crowe memorabilia items it purchased to the Blockbuster store in Anchorage , including the actor ’s used jockstrap from the filming ofGladiator . While it ’s obviously not at the top of their priority listing right now , those who ferment at the computer storage are now shy where these items will terminate up . For her part , Bend location general director Sandi Harding is shocked that her store end up being the last one in the U.S. Despite the common ailment mention above , whenever more Blockbuster storehouse close , it ’s unresistant to stimulate an emotional reaction from those who grew up " making it a Blockbuster Nox . " TV stores had their problems , but they stay a nostalgic ethnical touchstone for many people , and it ’s distressing to see them continue the march toward total extinction .