THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER

At its peak, there were nine thousand Blockbuster stores.

Friday nights meant walking the aisles. Picking a title. Hoping it was still on the shelf.

Then streaming arrived. One by one, the lights went dark.

July 2018 — Alaska's last two stores locked their doors. A manager said goodbye to customers he called family.

March 2019 — Perth, Australia. The last Blockbuster outside America closed for good.

That left Bend, Oregon. One store. Still renting movies. Roughly eighty percent of its income now comes from T-shirts and merchandise.

Nine thousand stores. One remains.

It has not announced a closing date.