David Farrier

I think that's what it is. I inhale the smell. I wish you could smell what I'm smelling too, but like with our country episode, you'll just have to use your imagination. Just seeing all these boxes on shelves, I just remember as a kid the hours I would spend just slowly looking and pacing and deciding what I was going to get. Same here. Going to my local video store was like going to church. Holy.

I think that's what it is. I inhale the smell. I wish you could smell what I'm smelling too, but like with our country episode, you'll just have to use your imagination. Just seeing all these boxes on shelves, I just remember as a kid the hours I would spend just slowly looking and pacing and deciding what I was going to get. Same here. Going to my local video store was like going to church. Holy.

Special. You had to pick carefully, because you were stuck with what you got. You had to make it count. This wasn't Netflix with a flat fee for tens of thousands of titles that you mindlessly start watching then swap three minutes in. No, choosing a physical box and disc, this was serious shit. Dan and Matt, who are working here today, remember that time fondly.

Special. You had to pick carefully, because you were stuck with what you got. You had to make it count. This wasn't Netflix with a flat fee for tens of thousands of titles that you mindlessly start watching then swap three minutes in. No, choosing a physical box and disc, this was serious shit. Dan and Matt, who are working here today, remember that time fondly.

There's a whole generation of kids that miss out on that experience of watching stuff. It's a whole different thing.

There's a whole generation of kids that miss out on that experience of watching stuff. It's a whole different thing.

Blockbuster was launched in 1985 in Dallas, Texas. It had 8,000 VHS tapes and 2,000 beta tapes. Americans loved it, and suddenly Blockbuster stores were everywhere.

Blockbuster was launched in 1985 in Dallas, Texas. It had 8,000 VHS tapes and 2,000 beta tapes. Americans loved it, and suddenly Blockbuster stores were everywhere.

At its peak, Blockbuster was a multi-billion dollar company, with some insane twists and turns along the way. One time it partnered with Enron to try and make a video on demand service. That failed. Then in the year 2000, Blockbuster turned down a chance to buy Netflix for a measly $50 million. Of course, Netflix would become a Blockbuster killer.

At its peak, Blockbuster was a multi-billion dollar company, with some insane twists and turns along the way. One time it partnered with Enron to try and make a video on demand service. That failed. Then in the year 2000, Blockbuster turned down a chance to buy Netflix for a measly $50 million. Of course, Netflix would become a Blockbuster killer.

The early version of the streamer mailing out DVDs to customers, meaning movie lovers didn't have to get off their lazy butts to go to a physical store anymore. Netflix and things like Redbox kiosks were bad for Blockbuster. Stores were shutting down, and then it was going bankrupt, and in 2011 it was sold to the very dryly named Dish Network.

The early version of the streamer mailing out DVDs to customers, meaning movie lovers didn't have to get off their lazy butts to go to a physical store anymore. Netflix and things like Redbox kiosks were bad for Blockbuster. Stores were shutting down, and then it was going bankrupt, and in 2011 it was sold to the very dryly named Dish Network.

Since me and Rob have been in this store, three families have come in. Marnie, Deepa, and their kid, Ahana, are marveling at this place like I am, and smelling it too.

Since me and Rob have been in this store, three families have come in. Marnie, Deepa, and their kid, Ahana, are marveling at this place like I am, and smelling it too.

Like me, they didn't grow up in America. And while they had video stores, they'd never stepped into a blockbuster.

Like me, they didn't grow up in America. And while they had video stores, they'd never stepped into a blockbuster.

I admit, same here. Don't arrest me. Did you know this store was here in Bend or did you just come across it? I looked.

I admit, same here. Don't arrest me. Did you know this store was here in Bend or did you just come across it? I looked.

Of course, how can you be in the world's last blockbuster without finding out someone's top three movies?

Of course, how can you be in the world's last blockbuster without finding out someone's top three movies?