Around the Bend

LAST ONE STANDING: We recently spent a little time in Bend, Oregon. During our short visit, we were able to see and do a number of fun things. For CJ, the pinnacle of the sightseeing involved visiting the last Blockbuster video store in America.  

I would think nearly anyone who lived during the boom of the VHS era would have a Blockbuster memory - or many memories. I certainly remember heading into the stores, hoping that a copy of the biggest, newest release would be waiting on the shelves for me.  Also, in the days of CJ's big brothers' childhoods, Blockbuster (and other stores) provided hours of kid-friendly entertainment. (Keep in mind, this was back before there were dozens and dozens of cable channels with programming to choose from.)

CJ would be happy to tell you more about the Blockbuster story. ...

Blockbuster is/was a chain of film and video game rental stores (and later, an online video rental service) that, throughout the 90s and 00s, was synonymous with movie night for countless people and families throughout the developed world (particularly in the United States and Australia.) 

Since reaching its peak in 2004 (and making the decision to end late fees at the end of said year,) Blockbuster has been on a gradual decline, managing to go from Goliath to David within the course of about a half-decade. This was largely due to the rise of online movie and TV streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu (and, to a lesser extent, the presence of video rental kiosks such as Redbox.) 

In late 2013 and early 2014, the last of the corporate-owned Blockbusters were closed, and, over the course of the next four years, fifty more franchised Blockbusters across the United States were closed, thus leaving only one, in Bend, Oregon (where I'm writing this report.) 

The Bend Blockbuster (or, as it is sometimes known, "Bendbuster") has become a tourist attraction, largely due to its nostalgia and novelty. If or when Bendbuster closes, it will end the era of American Blockbuster stores, and possibly Blockbuster stores period.

A poster in the Bend store let us know a documentary about the last Blockbuster is in the works. We look forward to checking it out (but not from a Blockbuster store!). 

The Bend Blockbuster was festive for the holidays. There was even a little Blockbuster tree.

In a smart marketing move, the store has merchandise. 

CJ was most pleased to come away with a t-shirt.