I think Bendites and Central Oregonians take for granted that they live alongside the Last Blockbuster on Planet Earth. While there are still several incredible and iconic video stores across the West Coast (the dreamy “Movie Madness” in PDX and the deeply quirky and cavernous “Scarecrow Video” in Seattle are two of my favorites), our Blockbuster is a genuine Mom and Pop show that inspires nostalgia from the moment you pull in the parking lot.
But don’t trust my opinion because I am proudly un-objective. Several years ago, I was lucky enough to be in “The Last Blockbuster” documentary, waxing poetic about the smell of VHS cases and the importance of physical media in a time when algorithms and AI shape most of the entertainment we consume. I’m a diehard fan of the store and have been since before it was the last one. It’s a five-minute walk from my house and being able to roll in at some random time and chat with the manager Dan Montgomery about the latest horror movie releases is something I’ll never get tired of doing.
This last weekend, The Last Blockbuster on Earth celebrated its 40th anniversary. Not of the store, but of Blockbuster itself…coming out the same year as “Back to the Future” and “The Goonies.” The party itself was perfect and as unpretentious as GM Sandi Harding is herself. Rocking a flawless throwback jean jacket and a smile, Harding made sure the block party in the parking lot of Blockbuster felt like something you could stumble across in 1985 or 2085.
With corn dogs, snow cones, booths for dance studios, the Humane Society, Papa Murphy’s and a company that transfers old VHS tapes to disc or otherwise, plus a musical performance from the cast of Greenhouse Cabaret’s “Once,” the Blockbuster anniversary party was less about celebrating the survival of a corporate entity and much more about reminding Bend of its small-town roots. It was impossible to walk around inside or outside the store and not feel deeply connected to this community and be reminded that video stores weren’t just a place to rent movies, but also a space to gather and discuss film, connect with friends, go on dates and be yelled at by your parents when trying to rent “Hellraiser” as a 10-year old.
I was there to judge a costume contest and as soon as I saw a little kid dressed like Beetlejuice, it was all over. It was hard not to feel a bit emotional seeing children running around a video store and being sort of amazed that something like this existed outside in the real world instead of just on a streaming service. With genuine film geeks behind the counter and curating the DVD and Blu-ray selections, I found stacks of Mario Bava and Dario Argento movies I have always wanted physical copies of, while my friend found a treasure trove of Asian Extreme horror flicks she always wanted. Finding these kinds of artifacts out in the wild is genuinely exciting and was one of the best physical media scores I’ve had all year.
Celebrating Blockbuster’s 40th with Sandi, Dan and the crew was genuinely special and reminded me that the store isn’t just a must-see tourist destination but still thrives as a store for people who genuinely love what video stores should still mean to the world. Film is important and much more than just a throwback to kitchy nostalgia and when I walk into that store I don’t see the half-faded glory of a corporate brand, I see a tireless group of locals keeping actual magicalive in the world. Happy 40th, Blockbuster. May you have so many more.
The Last Blockbuster on The Planet
Everyday 10:30am-10pm
211 NE Revere Ave., Bend
bendblockbuster.com/
541-385-9111
This article appears in the Source October 23, 2025.
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