Last year, we reported the Blockbuster Video store in Bend was the last one remaining in the U.S. Now the Australian Associated Press reports that with the scheduled closure of that nation’s last store this month, the Bend Blockbuster will be officially the last one on the planet.
Sandi Harding is the store’s general manager. She says she’s excited at the news, and appreciates all the support and business from the Bend community.
“I can’t tell you how many people have told me now that we should become a landmark, or become a museum," Harding tells KLCC.
"It’s definitely a lot of fun and it makes you feel really proud that we’re still here. And it makes us feel that like all of our efforts paid off and we’re excited.”
Visitors from all corners of the U.S., as well as London and Taiwan have filled up three guestbooks already at the Bend Blockbuster.
At its peak in the early 2000s, there were 9,000 Blockbuster Stores, with half in the U.S. But competition from streaming video services like Netflix ravaged the Blockbuster franchise.
Copyright 2019, KLCC.
