The end of an era: Australia’s last Blockbuster video store is closing down – as the owners blame streaming services for the demise of rentals
- Australia’s last Blockbuster video store will cease trading at the end of March
- Blockbuster Morley, located in Perth, was the second-last franchise in the world
- Closure leaves behind the Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon, as sole franchise
Australia’s last Blockbuster video store and the second-last in the world is preparing to close its doors.
Blockbuster Morley, located 10km northeast of the Perth CBD in Western Australia, will cease trading at the end of the March.
The impending closure will leave the Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon, as the sole survivor of the franchise.
Australia’s last Blockbuster video store and the second-last in the world is preparing to close its doors (pictured: owners Lyn and John Borszeky)
Blockbuster Morley (pictured), located 10 kilometres northeast of the Perth CBD in Western Australia, will cease trading at the end of the March
The owners of the Morley store, Lyn and John Borszeky, said customers began to express their sadness when the closing down sale signs went up on Friday.
Ms Borszeky said it was only a matter of time before they shut up shop amid the rise of streaming services such as Netflix.
She said she felt sorry for seniors who struggled to understand the new technology and film lovers who had poor internet connections.
‘We put in a pretty good effort to be the last one in Australia, I suppose, but it was going to happen eventually and now is the time,’ Ms Borszeky told AAP.
Morley became Australia’s last Blockbuster store after the Toowoomba store, in regional Queensland, closed in January.
The store in Oregon became the final American franchise after stores in Alaska shut in 2018.
The Morley store was the last Australian store in January when the Toowoomba store, in regional Queensland, closed
Ms Borszeky (right) said it was only a matter of time before they shut up shop amid the rise of streaming services such as Netflix
The Borszekys have worked in the video-rental industry for nearly 30 years and owned a number of Blockbuster stores in Perth, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
In a January, Ms Borszeky said the store averaged about 25 new members a week despite losing customers aged between 15 and 30.
‘We have a great location and we’ve got a good landlord who has been very supportive as well,’ she said in January.
‘We’ve still got the customer support. We have good loyal customers and we’ve picked up a lot of customers from other stores that have closed.
Ms Borszeky said a lot of customers wanted to keep the small business going.
The Blockbuster store became a popular site for visitors when it was announced as one of the only two remaining stores
The store in Oregon has built business out of embracing its name as the last Blockbuster in USA.
They sell shirts and other memorabilia but the Morley store did not follow suit.
‘People have taken photos out the front of the store. Customers will come with friends from overseas and they would say, ”oh my god, there is still a Blockbuster”,’ Ms Borszeky said in January.
The fame of being the last Blockbuster in Australia was not enough to keep the video store standing.
Sentimental cinephiles can get their hands on Blockbuster signs in the closing down sale, which starts on March 8.