After years of taking beating after beating from Netflix and other video streaming services, Blockbuster is now down to their last store. The store, which is located in Oregon, is the last one in the U.S., and soon, the whole world.
The Blockbuster located in central Bend, Oregon became the last Blockbuster in the U.S. last year. Blockbusters in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska closed last year, leaving only one American location open for business. After the Blockbuster in Perth, Australia closes later this month, the Blockbuster in Bend will be the last stronghold of the once-ubiquitous DVD/game rental company.
Blockbuster locations were everywhere at one point. There were once 9000 yellow and blue stores open worldwide at its height. The downfall of Blockbuster has served as one of the most useful, albeit sobering, examples of the effect that technological innovation can have on unprepared businesses. After the video-streaming revolution started, there was very little that Blockbuster could do to change their fate, apart from a top-to-bottom reevaluation of the entire business model.
The manager of the final Blockbuster location has stated that the store will remain as a tourist attraction, and won’t move anytime soon. Regardless of what happens to the store, for most of us, Blockbuster has died and only exists in our hearts and memories.
