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Blockbuster Video, 3250 Forest Drive: 10 April 2011   22 comments

Posted at 11:41 pm in closing

Well, here is yet another Blockbuster Video closing. It's the same old story about competition with Netflix, Redbox and various video-on-demand services, but it seems that there have been some new developments since I last did a Blockbuster closing.

For one thing, according to Wikipedia, the chain went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September of 2010. I had heard that, but I had not heard that their plan for coming out of bankruptcy failed. That does surprise me a bit. I figured they would emerge from bankruptcy, and then fail again. The Wikipedia article says that on 1 March 2011, the Justice Department moved to force them into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, ie: liquidation.

Then another unlikely event intervened, and just a few weeks ago, on 28 March 2011, Dish Network bought Blockbuster:

The Denver Post reported that Dish, a Denver-based satellite-TV firm, plans to use the assets to enhance its subscription offerings and start streaming video and shipping DVDs, in order to compete with Netflix. Analysts say such a move would present a number of challenges for Blockbuster, that it would require renewing studio deals, securing streaming rights and building out the needed infrastructure.

(Hat tip to commenter chiefa)

UPDATE 17 April 2011 -- Commenter Andrew sends this picture of the plaza marquee before the Blockbuster closing:

UPDATE 30 September 2011 -- Here's a 16 september 2011 picture of the place with the marquee sign up for Firehouse and a truck about to put up the roadside sign:

UPDATE 5 October 2020: Update tags, add map icon.

Written by ted on April 15th, 2011

Tagged with , , , , , ,

22 Responses to 'Blockbuster Video, 3250 Forest Drive: 10 April 2011'

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  1. I have some pics of a Blockbuster Video at 2916 Emmanuel Church Road that closed the same day as this one...

    Andrew

    16 Apr 11 at 12:23 am

  2. I believe this was one of if not the first Blockbuster to open in Columbia.

    Mike

    16 Apr 11 at 7:36 am

  3. If there is a God this will NOT become a Dollar Store.

    Alphonse

    16 Apr 11 at 8:26 am

  4. Third pic from the last . . . the place is haunted!

    Kenneth

    16 Apr 11 at 1:32 pm

  5. Andrew, if you want, send them and I'll add them. "closings at columbiaclosings dot cmo"

    ted

    16 Apr 11 at 4:53 pm

  6. @Mike, I believe you are correct. I also think was the largest in square footage at one time.

    Tom

    17 Apr 11 at 7:39 am

  7. I wonder how long before the one on Augusta Road closes...

    tonkatoy

    18 Apr 11 at 6:33 am

  8. I read that Dish Network (who won rights to buy Blockbuster Video) plans to keep ≈600 Blockbuster locations but can't find an official list. For now, the remaining Blockbuster locations are going to continue to operate as is.

    Below you'll find a list of the remaining 6 area Blockbuster locations (excluding their blue kiosks):
    • Store #92511, 2419 Broad River Road
    • Store #92578, 2301 Augusta Rd (West Columbia)
    • Store #92554, 7249 Saint Andrews Rd
    • Store #92555, 4450 Rosewood Drive
    • Store #92581, 509 W Main St (Lexington)
    • Store #45070, 2110 Clemson Road

    To the best of my knowledge, each of these will continue to operate just the way they are but it's best to stay tuned for updates as Blockbuster and Dish Network finalize the details of their buyout.

    Andrew

    18 Apr 11 at 11:31 pm

  9. Never did like Blockbuster. Their late fees were ridiculous. They once wouldn't let me turn a video in at 11:58 because they had already turned off the computer. I never paid that 2.00. They used to send letters about it. I'm sure they spent more in postage than 2.00 and they lost me as a customer. That was in 96. I tried to frequent the mom and pop stores for years but then dvds became so cheap I started buying everything. I hated that they ran so many places out of business. They would charge about 3 bucks while most places charged about 99 cents.

    Mr Bill

    19 Apr 11 at 10:41 am

  10. @Mr Bill: I did a little searching and found that in 1996, the standard first class mail letter cost was 32¢. At that rate, Blockbuster would have had to send you 7 letters in order to have spent more on postage than $2 asking for the $2 late fee you mentioned.

    While it is entirely possible that Blockbuster could have had access to a bulk rate, chances are, if you relieved more than ≈7-10 letters from them, they did spend more than $2 in postage asking for the $2 they claimed you owed them.

    Andrew

    19 Apr 11 at 1:04 pm

  11. While this one and the 3520 Forest Drive location didn't make the cut, I came across a CrunchGear.com article indicating that Dish Newtork wants to take over the leases of something like 500 remaining locations. I mentioned that Columbia has 6 Blockbuster locations in an earlier post. So there may be hope for them after all but it's best to stay tuned for updates as Dish Network finalizes their acquisition plan for Blockbuster Video.

    Andrew

    19 Apr 11 at 11:47 pm

  12. While this one and the *2916B Emmanuel Church Road* location didn't make the cut, I came across a CrunchGear.com article indicating that Dish Newtork wants to take over the leases of something like 500 remaining locations. I mentioned that Columbia has 6 Blockbuster locations in an earlier post. So there may be hope for them after all but it's best to stay tuned for updates as Dish Network finalizes their acquisition plan for Blockbuster Video.

    Andrew

    19 Apr 11 at 11:48 pm

  13. I was told this one closed because its rent was twice that of the Rosewood location and it is only 4 miles away. The rep also said this location did still turn a profit though.

    Thomas

    20 Apr 11 at 11:06 pm

  14. interesting, Forest Acres is known as an area with higher lease rates from what I've read due to little available land, strong residential base and high occupancy rates...a large lease increase is why Dillard's left Richland Mall back in 2003.

    Andrew

    21 Apr 11 at 12:18 am

  15. [...] Blockbuster Video, 3250 Forest Drive: 10 April 2011 at Columbia … Apr 15, 2011 … I have some pics of a Blockbuster Video at 2916 Emmanuel Church Road that closed the same day as … [...]

  16. I heard today that a restaurant is interested in opening up here...no word yet on who so stay tuned for details as plans develop

    Andrew

    21 Jul 11 at 7:29 pm

  17. Firehouse Subs has signed a lease for 2,620 square feet of the space leaving a remaining 3,900 square feet available for lease.

    David

    22 Jul 11 at 8:04 am

  18. Ok folks here's the NAI Avant listing on this place...

    Andrew

    11 Aug 11 at 6:34 pm

  19. Unless negotiated lower the monthly lease on this building will be $5,217. Ted, be prepared to publish another post on this location.

    Terry Edwards

    12 Aug 11 at 4:31 am

  20. folks, the signage for Firehouse Subs is now up and they are accepting applications so it will indeed be a go before much longer it appears.

    Andrew

    14 Sep 11 at 2:52 pm

  21. I got in touch with the folks from Firehouse Subs and I was told that the expected grand opening of the new Firehouse Subs is September 30...this place will also feature the new Coco Cola Freestyle with 120 beverage options such as Cherry, Rasberry, Vanilla flavors of both Sprite and Coke and even Peach Sprite. Plus you can have Vanilla Root Beer and several flavors of Fanta, Powerade or even Hi-C.

    Andrew

    22 Sep 11 at 12:44 pm

  22. as of this Saturday, October 1, 2011, Firehouse Subs will be open for business at this location

    Andrew

    29 Sep 11 at 10:15 pm

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