The 90s Entertainment Icon That Refused to Die Attracts Worldwide Visitors to Oregon

The Last Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon

Rewind your nostalgia because tucked away in the high desert of Central Oregon sits a time capsule of your Friday night glory days.

The last Blockbuster on Earth isn’t just surviving in Bend, it’s thriving as a retro-cool tourist spot where you can still feel that sweet rush of snagging the last copy.

Complete with that iconic torn-ticket logo and endless rows of DVDs, this retail rebel has outlasted the streaming apocalypse, so maybe go check it out.

Started as a Local Video Chain

Ken and Debbie Tisher opened this 4000 square foot store in 1992, initially naming it Pacific Store, but it didn’t become a Blockbuster until 2000.

Sandi Harding has run the place since 2004, outlasting all 9,000 other Blockbuster stores that once existed around the world.

The Blockbuster Name Costs Something

Ken Tisher still owns the store and pays Dish Network $20,000 every year to use the Blockbuster name. This deal started after Dish bought Blockbuster’s assets in 2011 for $320 million and let the store legally sell Blockbuster-branded items.

Manager Creates Her Own Membership Cards

Manager Sandi Harding makes membership cards herself with old depot tools. She buys new movies from Walmart at full price, gets snacks from Costco, and has filled over 30 guest books with visitor signatures.

The Nostalgic Smell Is Intentional

It’s not popcorn but a special $12.99 candle that’ll take you back to the ’90s, the complete butter, salt, and cardboard feels. They sell over 200 candles every month to people who want to bring home that classic video store smell.

Russell Crowe’s Movie Costumes

Movie buffs can check out real costumes worn by Russell Crowe, including the hood from Robin Hood, a vest from Les Misérables, and robes from Cinderella Man. Along with Crowe’s costumes, you’ll find directors’ chairs from the movie American Gangster.

Merchandise Is Made in Bend

About 80% of what the store earns comes from selling merchandise, with 95% of items made by local Bend artists. The most popular item is the $22.99 blue-and-yellow T-shirt, followed by the $12.99 popcorn-scented candle.

Local Brewery Made Blockbuster Beer

In 2018, 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend created ‘The Last Blockbuster’ dark ale that tasted like red licorice. They sold 500 gallons at a party and brought the beer back in 2024. Now you can only buy it at the store for $5.99 a bottle.

You Could Once Sleep Inside the Store

In September 2020, they teamed up with Airbnb to offer three one-night sleepovers for just $4 each. Guests could watch unlimited movies in a 90s-themed living room. It sold out in 46 seconds, earning them $70,000 worth of free publicity.

Tourist Destination Overnight

When the Australia store closed in March 2019, visitor numbers jumped 500% in just weeks. During the pandemic, customers even mailed back rented DVDs from several states away just to keep their connection to the store.

They Survived the Pandemic

During COVID-19, the store kept all 10 employees even though rentals dropped by 60%. They switched to curbside pickup, local delivery within 5 miles, and online merchandise sales, which grew by 2,000% in 2020.

What’s Happening Here Today?

Even with 1,200 movies in stock, The Goonies (filmed in Astoria, Oregon) remains their top rental of all time. The store has about 4,000 active members. You pay $3.99 for new releases for three days, while older movies cost just 99 cents per night.

More Than 2 Million Saw Their Ad

Back in February 2023, they put out an Instagram commercial during the Super Bowl showing a cockroach surviving the end of the world to reach the place. The 30-second ad cost less than $500 but boosted sales by 35%.

Visiting the Last Blockbuster

Address/Location: 211 NE Revere Avenue, Bend, Oregon 97701, USA

Requirements: Bring a credit card and government ID to rent movies

Opening Hours: Every day from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Fee: Movie rentals range from $0.99 (older titles) to $3.99 (new releases) for a 3-day rental

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