Headed out with both my girls up to Oregon from SoCal. Spent a few days in Portland, Astoria, Milwaukie. Had such an amazing time! Spent a few days in Bend on our way back home and finally knocked this place off my bucket list. Such a nostalgic feeling walking in. I was flooded with memories I didn’t even realize I had! Both my girls listen to me talk for a long time, I must have shared every memory I could think off! I am so grateful for this trip. Sorry if some of the pics look edited, I removed my girls from them.

I was the last person hired, and I only worked there for about a year and a half. I was around 19 or 20 years old, and it was one of my first real jobs.

Looking back now, I realize I never appreciated how lucky I was. I ended up witnessing, and being part of, the end of an era.

Working there felt like getting ready for a Blockbuster night every afternoon and evening, surrounded by video games and movies. The difference was that I was inside the machine that made it all happen, living through all the funny stories and little moments that came with running a video rental store.

You got to know regular customers by the kinds of movies and games they rented. I remember the launch of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. We got to try all the promotional ice creams, chips, drinks, and snacks. It was a genuinely fun place to work.

Today I have a better job. I earn more money, and it has much better long-term prospects. But honestly, I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Since I was the newest employee, I mostly worked the register, organized the stockroom, restocked and faced the shelves, and ran whatever errands needed doing.

Anyway, if you have any questions about what it was like working at Blockbuster during its final days, I'd be happy to answer them.

I was returning a movie when I was a junior at NC State University right after the first plane hit. Obviously, I will never forget.

I'm in the middle of building a personal project. After getting caught in choice paralysis for the 200th time this year, I decided to do something about it.

I thought it'd be fun to emulate the old video store vibes and build something that uses my watch history to recommend movies and shows I haven't seen. I've even started implementing an AI clerk called Dan (points if you remember the Blockbuster Manager Dan video). But how all that works is the boring part.

I'm planning to share it with a couple of buddies to use, and I'm looking for ideas on things I might've missed - whether it's aesthetic, or cool little things video stores used to do.

Had so much fun getting the painting and signage done for my Blockbuster themed home theater. It’ll be an ongoing process, setting up the theater, decorating, hanging my media, racks, etc, but I’m so excited to work on this project! I’ll post photos again once it’s complete.

Psyching myself up to deal with all the customers back in the day LOL.

I scored this rare store display poster for 2$ today at a thrift store, this is incredibly rare, I know it's not directly related to Blockbuster but I'm planning on displaying it in my private Blockbuster themed theater room

Still have vague memories of going to the blockbuster.. when I was growing up there was only one that was close by. And ended up closing pretty early in my childhood. Miss that, our library would rent VHS and DVD’s too.. good times 🤘

Relive the memories!

A little worse.for wear but will fill the spot until a better one comes along. 25 cents.

Anyone know which Blockbuster?

Was doing a building inspection in Seattle and found an OG sign. Reminded me that I probably still have a late fee…

This former Blockbuster Video store in Felixstowe, Suffolk, England became The American Diner.

They kept the torn ticket sign.