Going to the Blockbuster video store on Friday night was a mainstay for many 1980s and 1990s families. Families would go together, with kids and adults selecting movies or video games to rent. The stores had movie theater candy, microwave popcorn, soda, and chips to go with movie rentals. When Blockbuster closed its doors, the nation mourned but quickly switched to digital streaming. Are recent changes to the Blockbuster website an indication of a possible comeback? Possibly, but not the way you think.
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Recently, the owner of the Blockbuster trademark, Dish Network, filed a new request to use the brand for a line of “nightclubs, restaurants, and amusement attractions.” They are not granting requests for movie rental franchises. So, this may signal a Blockbuster comeback of sorts, or just a repurposing of the brand with no other resemblance to our remembrance.
The company tweeted a teaser, “New business idea: We’re going to come back as a bank and use VHS and DVDs as currency. Time to go visit your mom.” There is no other information on the plan yet, but this is what we know. The Blockbuster website was recently updated with a notice that says, “We are working on rewinding your movie.”
A Blockbuster Comeback Would Be Welcome
If you need a Blockbuster “fix” and are up for a road trip, you can visit the only remaining store in Bend, Oregon. Although the store has rentals available, most of their business is retail souvenirs. Owners Ken and Debbie Tisher kept the store open when the remainder of the locations closed in 2014.
There have been several people who have recreated mini Blockbuster video stores in their homes. The nostalgia is real. People miss the iconic yellow and blue decor and the movie ticket logo. John Martino repurposed a closet to create his own Blockbuster “store.” The dedication to this happy childhood memory is unmatched.
By focusing on the 18- to 45-year-old crowd with the nightclub concept, they are trying to use the nostalgic draw of the brand. Initially, that may bring in curious onlookers. To truly make a comeback in any format, they must garner all the popularity that made Blockbuster the king of the video rental industry.
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