Blockbuster says it’s ‘just checking in’ as its last location goes up for rent on Airbnb
Residents in one Oregon county can soon make it a Blockbuster night in a way they may not have ever imagined.
You might not know it, but there’s still one Blockbuster location still open — in Bend, Oregon. Residents of Deschutes County now have the chance to stay overnight at the iconic store, and it will only cost them the price of a movie rental.
On Sept. 18, 19 and 20, the store will open its doors for overnight guests for an “End of Summer Sleepover.” It will have three quarantine pods where groups of four can enjoy a socially distanced movie night, according to the Airbnb listing.
Guests will be provided with movies to watch, candy, popcorn and pizza for the ultimate movie night. Lucky visitors will only have to pay $4 for a night’s stay.
“The store is all yours for the night!” the listing says. “So let loose, blast the boombox and wear your favorite ’90s denim so that you feel right at home in another era.”
So why is the offer just for Deschutes County residents? Store manager Sandi Harding, who has kept the business afloat while every other Blockbuster location has closed its doors, said it’s a way of giving back to the community.
“Without the renters coming in every week, we can’t survive,” Harding told OregonLive.com.
Even Blockbuster’s Twitter account got in on the action. It posted on Twitter for the first time in six years Tuesday, telling its devoted followers, “Just checking in.” The Blockbuster account also had an exchange with the Airbnb account before it shared the listing.
Pictures of the listing show a stocked snack counter and a cozy living room with a pull-out sofa, entertainment center and VHS player for the big screen TV. Labels on movies show Blockbuster’s familiar request: Be kind. Please rewind.
Harding said on the listing she will hand guests the keys to the store and will leave them be for their movie night.
“We think of ourselves as a family, and that includes everyone from the global travelers who come to visit, to the lifelong friends and couples who first met as Blockbuster employees,” she wrote. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a test of our community unlike any other, so we decided to list this stay to keep this tradition alive during these uncertain times.”
Don’t live in Deschutes County? Blockbuster still has a way to help out movie watchers. Those who call the shop’s “Callgorithm” at 541-385-9111 can get a movie recommendation from a real human.