Before streaming appeared to be endangering the movie theater industry, the video rental store was considered to be the deathblow to cinemas. But those outlets dealing in everything from VHS to DVDs, from mom-and-pop shops to global chains, were the ones to fall first -- except one.
The Last Blockbuster is a soon-to-be-released documentary about the last surviving store in the once-massive retail chain. Still standing in Bend, Oregon, the video purveyor's manager, Sandi Harding, spoke to Cheddar about her motivations for keeping the nostalgia going for a bygone era.
"I feel like I'm giving everybody just a little bit of something special," said Harding, who's been running the shop since 2004. "We all know that movies are a great escape and what better way to escape life than being able to go into the last standing Blockbuster with a smile on your face?"
However, providing that escape became even more difficult amid the pandemic this year. Harding described the outlet's movie vendor closing and feeling "the pinch" on May 1 when there were no new products to be delivered.
The coronavirus even forced the store to change how it delivered its products.
"We were able to offer curbside service, so we were still able to come up with a unique, different way to keep servicing our customers," she said. "Even when people weren't feeling safe coming into the store."
Unfortunately, the big draw for a throwback like Blockbuster might be the ability to browse the racks of movies, and the pandemic put a pause on that activity. Harding said that to compensate, her employees provided more movie recommendations and walked the aisles with customers on the phone.
"It's not ever going to be the same as it would be if you were there yourself, but if we can try to provide a little bit of normalcy, that's a good thing," Harding explained.
Despite the touristy novelty of being the last Blockbuster, the store manager noted that the survival of the business relies on its community and loyal customers. Not to mention, the ironic addition of an online sales business.
"We have a booming online business that we never in a million years thought we would ever be doing, which we're very grateful for. That has definitely helped us through the pandemic," she said.
In an odd twist of history, 20 years ago the Blockbuster corporation once had the opportunity to buy the business that would help seal its fate: Netflix. At the time, the DVD delivery-only company offered to sell itself to Blockbuster for a mere $50 million, but then-CEO John Antioco turned them down.
"I try not to dwell too much on it, because there's not really much that we can do about it," Harding revealed. "I wasn't a part of that conversation or those decisions, and so I just try to keep moving forward. That's the only thing we can ever do."
The store also made another foray into modern tech after Harding listed it on Airbnb for end-of-summer sleepovers in August as a gesture of appreciation to the local community that has helped it survive over the years.
Ironically, The Last Blockbuster will be available via video on demand on December 15.
This story was originally published on December 7, 2020. It was later updated to add video of the December interview.
The New York Times and President Donald Trump are fighting again. The news outlet said Wednesday it won't be deterred by Trump's “false and inflammatory language” from writing about the 79-year-old president's health. The Times has done a handful of stories on that topic recently, including an opinion column that said Trump is “starting to give President Joe Biden vibes.” In a Truth Social post, Trump said it might be treasonous for outlets like the Times to do “FAKE” reports about his health and "we should do something about it.” The Republican president already has a pending lawsuit against the newspaper for its past reports on his finances.
OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief of revenue. Dresser will oversee global revenue strategy and help businesses integrate AI into daily operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently emphasized improving ChatGPT, which now has over 800 million weekly users. Despite its success, OpenAI faces competition from companies like Google and concerns about profitability. The company earns money from premium ChatGPT subscriptions but hasn't ventured into advertising. Altman had recently announced delays in developing new products like AI agents and a personal assistant.
President Donald Trump says he will allow Nvidia to sell its H200 computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. Trump said Monday on his social media site that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping and “President Xi responded positively!” There had been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips into China as it could help them to compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities. But there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
U.S. sports betting is booming as NFL and college football fuel massive activity. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt breaks down trends, growth, and what’s next.
President Donald Trump says a deal struck by Netflix last week to buy Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem” because of the size of the combined market share. The Republican president says he will be involved in the decision about whether federal regulators should approve the deal. Trump commented Sunday when he was asked about the deal as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The $72 billion deal would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry.
Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.
With a merger this big, creators, studios, and theaters all face uncertain futures. Here’s what experts are worried about and what good could come from it.
With disengagement rising and hybrid work shifting, 'Everybody Matters' author Bob Chapman explains why treating people well could define the future of work.
We sat down with Ali Furman, U.S. Consumer Markets Industry Leader at consulting firm PwC to ask what trends she garnered from the initial data this year.
