Business & Tech
How Has Concord's Blockbuster Video Survived?
The Concord video store is one of only three left in the East Bay following the mass closure of of locations around the country. But it might not be open for long.
The blue and yellow letters of a "Blockbuster" sign is an unusual sight in 2013, and finding one still in operation is even rarer.
But Concord's Blockbuster video store on Willow Pass Road is still standing, and it's still open for business — at least for now.
The store is one of only three left in the East Bay, with other remaining locations in San Pablo and Alameda. Nearby locations in Clayton, Pleasant Hill and Lafayette have all been shut down in recent years following the company's bankruptcy in 2010.
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The company was bought by DISH Network in 2011 along with 1,700 stores. This year, that number is expected to drop to just 500 locations with the announcement of even more store closures planned for 2013. It is unclear which stores will be affected by the coming closures, but the company says that around 3,000 Blockbuster employees will lose jobs.
A staff member at the Concord location said that the store has remained open due to "excellent customer service" and deals like unlimited movie rentals for a monthly fee.
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Do you use Concord's Blockbuster store? How do you think it has managed to stay open? Share your experience in the comments.
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