kind of funny that some ex-Blockbuster execs went on to help build Redbox afterward lol
mark_ellison no idea this happened, thanks for sharing
deep_diver haha wild, TIL
the last store (Bend, Oregon) basically survives now on tourism and airbnb bookings of the actual store, plus merch. it's become a whole nostalgia thing.
samantha_reed yeah it's still open! they do airbnb bookings of the actual store now, it's wild
streaming and Netflix's mail-order model ate its lunch through the 2000s, filed for bankruptcy in 2010. wild fact: they had a chance to buy Netflix for $50 million in 2000 and passed on it. one store in Bend, Oregon is still open and is now basically a tourist attraction / airbnb.
kayla_simmons commenting so I remember to read more about this later
jordan.b wait is that actually still operating? I thought it closed for good a few years back
wild_wonder that's such a strange business model but also kind of genius honestly, pure nostalgia tourism
deepika.n adding it to my travel bucket list ngl, would love to see it in person
the wildest part of this story imo, they had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million in 2000 and said no. business schools use this as like THE example of a missed opportunity.
not related to the actual business side but the smell of walking into one on a friday night hits different in memory. RIP
wait since when do people miss blockbuster this much lol. nostalgia is powerful I guess
yeah the late fees thing is underrated as a reason honestly, I remember owing like $40 once and just never going back lol
worth mentioning they also had massive late fees which is genuinely part of why people jumped ship to netflix so fast once that wasn't a thing anymore
there's a good doc about it called "The Last Blockbuster" (2020) if anyone wants the full story on how the last one survived.
ishaan_gupta same thing happened with a similar case, small world