Saturday, April 16, 2011

Bye, bye Blockbuster

From the Daily News:

On a recent Saturday evening, drivers pulled off Union Turnpike and into a strip mall in Kew Gardens Hills, lured by a banner that blared, "Store Closing."

They rummaged through stacks of discounted DVDs, video games and even candy. With bags full of 99-cent movies, the crowd helped to empty out the Blockbuster Video, an area mainstay, before its closing this week.

It's a scene playing out across the country - and at several stores in Queens - after the Dallas-based chain filed for bankruptcy in September.

Queens residents will no longer be able to rely on Blockbuster to plan family movie nights as stores are closing in Astoria, Bayside, Forest Hills and Howard Beach, among others.


Great, those stores tend to be large, so that leaves a lot more room for Queens Crap.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

German supermarket operators of small format Aldi food stores are perfect size for Block buster stores.

Anonymous said...

Blockbusters and old school dinners. Two chains that cant keep up with the competitive nature of BUSINESS are now, OUT OF BUSINESS (or are going out of business).

Anonymous said...

Wonder what the Blockbuster on Grand Avenue in Maspeth will become. Hope it's not another nail salon or 99cent store.

Anonymous said...

I switched to netflix several years ago, before they offerred streaming video. I saved a lot of money and trips to blockbuster. You can still borrow videos from your local library for free. Just make sure you return them on time or you pay a fine.

KEN said...

... probably will build apartments in place of Blockbuster, like you suggest. Customers may get confused and go into the apartments in search of movies.

"Hey there fella. That's my wife you've got under your arm. Come back with her -- at once."

"Your wife? Looks like a dvd to me. So take $4 for a rental fee and bug off!"

Anonymous said...

why is this news worthy ?
Who cares if they closed, they were overpriced.
Netflix is what most people use anyway.

Anonymous said...

poor blockbuster. they did try to compete with netflix directly by offering similar services, but it wasn't reasonable for them to keep a brick and mortar store and offer Netflix-like services at the same time (too many expenses). Who even goes to blockbuster anymore? It's not even convenient. It's the sign of the times. if you cannot adapt, then you will be driven out of business. Survival of the fittest.

Anonymous said...

>>I switched to netflix several years ago, before they offerred streaming video. I saved a lot of money and trips to blockbuster. You can still borrow videos from your local library for free. Just make sure you return them on time or you pay a fine.

How is that helpful when public libraries have stopped buying multiple copies of "The Goods" & "Hot Rod"?!

Anonymous said...

poor blockbuster. they did try to compete with netflix directly by offering similar services, but it wasn't reasonable for them to keep a brick and mortar store and offer Netflix-like services at the same time (too many expenses).Who even goes to blockbuster anymore? It's not even convenient. It's the sign of the times. if you cannot adapt, then you will be driven out of business. Survival of the fittest.

Apparently, there was some guy (high level, but not to the point of the board or vp) in blockbuster was telling the board and trying to convince the executives about his new idea very similar to netflix. But the stupid executives at Blockbuster laughed at him and say it will not work..for whatever kind of reason. Maybe they were resistant to change? Well, look who's laughing now. Then when they realized it, they try to copy netflix..but it's too late. The stupid executives deserves it.