Great article! That's so cool you got to visit the Last Blockbuster. Totally nostalgic for me in the way you described. Friday nights with family or friends were the bomb - especially if you didn't get there early enough to snag one-of-only-several-copies of New Releases - for then your night exploded in slightly subdued excitement. You …
Great article! That's so cool you got to visit the Last Blockbuster. Totally nostalgic for me in the way you described. Friday nights with family or friends were the bomb - especially if you didn't get there early enough to snag one-of-only-several-copies of New Releases - for then your night exploded in slightly subdued excitement. You just had to then scour the aisles waiting for that especially awesome VHS sleeve cover art to grab your attention and accompany you to the checkout line, while you picked up some old heavily-rented & discarded tapes from the sales bin to add to your permanent collection.
Blockbuster was definitely a cultural institution and served as several of my friends' (and millions of other peoples') 1st jobs. I do remember when they came along and drove out most of the Mom & Pop video stores. That was sad for sure, and it is a bit ironic as you stated:
"It’s an interesting twist that the Last Blockbuster, while mimicking the original chain, is now a standalone store. It is now the very thing that it help drive out of business."
Now that the Last Blockbuster is a Mom & Pop, I can't help but wonder if it too maintains a tucked away beaded curtained-off area . . .
HA! I worked in a Mom & Pop that had the "backroom." I was young, so I was told to not go back there. Then the first night I worked there, my manager who was maybe 20 had me go in there and organize the space.
Great article! That's so cool you got to visit the Last Blockbuster. Totally nostalgic for me in the way you described. Friday nights with family or friends were the bomb - especially if you didn't get there early enough to snag one-of-only-several-copies of New Releases - for then your night exploded in slightly subdued excitement. You just had to then scour the aisles waiting for that especially awesome VHS sleeve cover art to grab your attention and accompany you to the checkout line, while you picked up some old heavily-rented & discarded tapes from the sales bin to add to your permanent collection.
Blockbuster was definitely a cultural institution and served as several of my friends' (and millions of other peoples') 1st jobs. I do remember when they came along and drove out most of the Mom & Pop video stores. That was sad for sure, and it is a bit ironic as you stated:
"It’s an interesting twist that the Last Blockbuster, while mimicking the original chain, is now a standalone store. It is now the very thing that it help drive out of business."
Now that the Last Blockbuster is a Mom & Pop, I can't help but wonder if it too maintains a tucked away beaded curtained-off area . . .
HA! I worked in a Mom & Pop that had the "backroom." I was young, so I was told to not go back there. Then the first night I worked there, my manager who was maybe 20 had me go in there and organize the space.
oh my gosh, that's too funny!