This Video Store In Oregon Is The Last Of Its Kind On The Entire Planet
By Catherine Armstrong|Published March 08, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Back in the 1980s, video rental stores were all the rage. You could walk into a little strip-mall storefront and peruse thousands of VHS titles, then go home and watch at your convenience. Blockbuster Video emerged as the king of all video rental shops, but now there’s just one store left on the entire planet…and it’s right here in Oregon.
Blockbuster video was founded in 1985, and thrived during the era of VHS and DVD rentals. The chain once owned 9,094 stores all over the world. When streaming services became widely available, the demand for rentals declined, and Blockbuster started closing stores one by one.
The only other store in the United States (in Alaska), closed in 2018, and the only other store in the world, located in Perth, Australia, announced its closing recently. That means that the Blockbuster in Bend is the last one on the entire planet. The store is located at 211 NE Revere Ave., Bend, OR 97701.
Step in the front doors, and be whisked right back to the days when your DVD player was one of your most prized possessions. Everyone knows that you start by walking the perimeter of the store, where the new releases are displayed alphabetically.
Then, move on to the interior aisles, where you'll find everything organized by category. Peruse the drama section, consider a comedy or two, and pick up a couple kid movies to keep the little one occupied.
Don't have a Blockbuster card? No problem! In fact, the manager at the Bend location notes that lots of people visit from all over the world just to get a card. The store issues about 10 new cards every day.
Visitors are also looking for this hot merchandise. Pick up a hoodie, t-shirt, or hat during your visit. Because this Blockbuster has been the last one in the U.S. for awhile already, it's turned into a tourist attraction of sorts.
Another unique feature of this store is the array of Russel Crowe memorabilia. See the Director's chairs he and Denzel Washington sat in while making the movie "American Gangster," and check out clothing he wore in the movies "Les Misérables," "Cinderella Man," and "Robin Hood."
The manager at the Bend Blockbuster says that the store has no plans to close its doors. Whether you want to rent a DVD, buy a hoodie, or just soak in the nostalgia of this place, you'll want to pay it a visit soon. It's open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (with extended hours to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights).
