The manager of the world’s last Blockbuster video rental outlet Sandi Harding is listing the store on vacation rental marketplace Airbnb as an accommodation venue for three nights only.
The Oregon store will be available for a “90s-themed stay” on September 18, 19 and 20 as a chance to relive the Friday night tradition of video watching during the era. It is open to guests residing in the surrounding Deschutes County, a community that has supported the business ever since the demise of VHS technology.
Residents of the country will have the opportunity to book a “slumber party” at the Blockbuster store from August 17 at a cost of US$4, just a penny more than the rental cost of a movie. Guests will sleep on a futon under 90s-era blankets set up in front of a large TV. The store shelves will be fully stocked with the store’s complement of movies on tape.
While the atmosphere of the sleepover in the world’s last Blockbuster store may hearken back 20 years, in at least one respect the mood must necessarily be overshadowed by the 2020 reality of the coronavirus pandemic – guests will need to follow Covid-19 precautions, and overnighters must come from the same family unit to avoid potential cross-infection. The store will be cleaned and prepared in accordance with CDC guidelines and consistent with the Airbnb enhanced cleaning protocol.
Oregon’s Blockbuster store has been in continuous operation since 2004.
