FAKE NEWS: Last Blockbuster In OR Reportedly Closing Oct 31

At one point in the United States, there were thousands of Blockbuster video stores. Only one remains operating in Oregon, and this week many people received alerts on their phones that the complete phase-out of the iconic video rental chain would be complete on Halloween.

Like many of you, I spent a lot of time at Blockbuster in my teens and twenties. It was practically my second home because one of my good friends worked there. I was a proud, video club card-carrying member.

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I was sitting in my living room Tuesday afternoon when I got a message at about 3:30 that the last remaining U.S. Blockbuster was closing its doors in Bend on October 31; I sat up quickly in disbelief. The alert came from a questionable source called 90s.Nostalgia4Millenials.

I was on the phone not five minutes later with a staffer from the famed last Blockbuster store. I actually got nervous as the phone was ringing.

"That's fake news!" That was the response I got from the employee who had a very managerial tone about him. I told the guy I was an account holder and was very concerned. It was a brief exchange but dispelled the "news" a few minutes prior.

We can all rest easier tonight knowing the last Blockbuster will continue to laminate cards for its account holders for a while longer.

In 2021, I had the opportunity to visit the Bend location with my wife and kids. It felt like I walked into a time capsule. I was so excited I must have looked like a crazy person to customers.

It's hard to believe that at one point there were over 6,000 U.S. stores, and now there is one. On a side note, I also got to visit the Goonies house (1985 movie) on the same trip.

We can all rest easier tonight knowing the last Blockbuster will continue to laminate cards for its account holders for a while longer. God bless Bend!