Despite the odds, Blockbuster is turning 40 — and cinephiles nostalgic for the ’90s and 2000s are invited to join in on the celebration.
Well, kind of.
Blockbuster launched in 1985 and hit its peak about two decades later with more than 9,000 video rental stores across the globe. The company closed all of its corporate-owned stores in 2014 after filing for bankruptcy — leaving only a smattering of franchised locations behind. Little by little, those started to peter out, too.
Except for one: The Blockbuster video rental store in Bend.
The central Oregon store, which became a Blockbuster in 2000, hasn’t quite been open for the entirety of the company’s four-decade history. But when you’re all that’s left of a near-defunct global multimedia brand, what’s a spare 15 years? Celebration is earned regardless.
And celebration there will be. Dubbed “The Last Blockbuster Block Party,” the video rental store will host a full day of music, memorabilia and movie-themed entertainment later this month.
The party will take place at the 211 N.E. Revere Ave. store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18.
Local vendors like The Corndog Company, Kona Ice, Cascade Indoor Sports and BendFilm will make up the celebration’s food and entertainment options — along with a full slate of 1980s-themed events. A DeLorean decked out like the time machine from “Back to the Future” (another ’85 baby) will also be on display.
Here’s the full schedule of events:
12:30-1:30 p.m. — Dress up as your favorite character from a movie released in 1985 for a costume contest. Here’s one idea, free of charge: Anyone from the Oregon coast classic “The Goonies.”
2-3 p.m. — ’80s karaoke with a live band. (It’s been a year since Cyndi Lauper came to Portland, BTW.)
3-4 p.m. — Track down your resident Gen X movie buff for ’80s film trivia.
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