The Last Blockbuster on Earth Thrives on Nostalgia
If your idea of a good time is heading over to the nearest Blockbuster on Friday night to load up on rented movies for the weekend, a visit to the last functioning Blockbuster on Earth in Bend, Oregon is an absolute must. If you thought the glory days of perusing aisle after aisle of shiny DVD cases and interacting with a flesh and blood Blockbuster employee at the checkout counter were long gone—think again. Against all odds, a lone Blockbuster has managed to thrive in the age of streaming services, digital movie rentals, and show-stealing social media platforms like TikTok.
The key to the last Blockbuster’s runaway success is leaning into nostalgia. The store sports the signature yellow and blue logo that those of us who grew up in the 90s recognize instantly. Today we can create any logo design online instantly. The last Blockbuster also smells of popcorn and candy which is one of the most comforting scents imaginable. Simply walking through the door and seeing rows of DVDs displayed by category is enough to make any nostalgic heart skip a beat.
Longtime Blockbuster general manager Sandi Harding states that tourism and merchandise are a big part of the last Blockbuster’s raging success. Visitors can purchase hoodies, shirts, and socks with “be kind, rewind” printed on them. Harding states that the last Blockbuster still eagerly rents DVDs and video games. Even those who are visiting for a few days can open a free rental account by producing a valid form of ID. The last Blockbuster has an extensive selection of DVDS which rivals the catalogue of any streaming service.
Photo by DepositPhotos.com
In 2020, the last Blockbuster teamed up with short term rental company Airbnb to create a 90s immersion experience where a handful of lucky renters could spend the night in the store for the bargain basement price of $3.99—which happens to be the cost of a DVD rental. Visitors strapped on rollerblades and rode around the store, wore 90s-era flannel shirts, and stayed up all night watching scary movies handpicked from the horror section. The promotion was a smash hit. The only snag was that the last Blockbuster doesn’t have any bathing facilities, so visitors could only camp out comfortably for a few days.
The last Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon is one of the few places left which still offers the thrill of borrowing a DVD. Sandi Harding urges visitors to relish the increasingly rare joy of renting instead of streaming.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- The Last Blockbuster, 211 NE Revere Avenue, Bend, Oregon, USA
- Coordinates
- 44.06733, -121.30369
- Access
- Public video-rental shop at 211 NE Revere Avenue. The operator's current contact page confirms the Bend store; Travel Oregon's 2026 visitor listing confirms that visitors can browse and rent movies. Check the schedule or call before making a special trip.
- Admission
- No admission charge is listed; a Travel Oregon visitor review dated August 15, 2026 says entry is free. Movie rentals and merchandise cost extra.
- Time needed
- Neither the operator nor local tourism sources gives a standard visit duration. Browse at your own pace; time depends on how long you want to explore the video collection and memorabilia.
- Best season
- No preferred season is published. This is an indoor shop; choose a date when it is open and confirm the schedule before traveling.
- Opening hours
- Open daily per the current OSM listing: Sunday–Thursday 10:30 am–8:00 pm; Friday–Saturday 10:30 am–9:00 pm. The operator does not publish hours on its contact page; call 541-385-9111 to confirm before visiting.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-10
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-10
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