Blockbusted

HAYDEN - The Blockbuster store was seeing more business than usual on Monday.

But the stream of customers toting stacks of movies wasn't a sign of success.

The several-year-old store in the Prairie Shopping Center is closing, staff confirmed on Monday. Opportunists were swiping up discounted movies and video games during the liquidation sale that kicked off this week.

This marks the finale of the Blockbuster chain in Kootenai County, as locations in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls have already shuttered.

The store is the latest casualty in the battle between brick-and-mortar rental stores and the bevy of other options, like online streaming and Redbox kiosk rentals.

"It's not the cheap, easier version (of getting movies) anymore," said Cassandra Jackson of why the closing signs didn't surprise her. "Between Netflix and Redbox, its not feasible."

Jackson and her boyfriend, Travis Hagen, both of Coeur d'Alene, were harvesting a nice stack of movies at the store on Monday afternoon. Some flicks are on sale for $1.99, $6.99 and $9.99.

While Jackson rarely visits Blockbuster, Hagen regretted losing the shelves crammed with movies and video games.

"It's a nice other option," Hagen said. "Redbox doesn't do older movies, and the (Redbox) video game selection is a lot smaller."

Apparently not enough people share that opinion.

The Hayden Blockbuster, which has nine employees, will close on April 28.

Inventory probably won't last that long. The line on Monday wasn't letting up as people grabbed armfuls of movies to purchase.

That wasn't all to be plundered; flat screen TVs on the wall were for sale, as were boxes of candy.

The Blockbuster headquarters in Douglas County, Colo., confirmed that the Hayden store is among 300 Blockbuster locations nationwide shutting their doors this year.

Dish Network Corp., which purchased Blockbuster in 2011, announced plans to close the stores in January.

Last year, Dish Network also closed 500 underperforming Blockbuster stores.

The video rental chain has lost customers fast to emerging alternatives. Netflix offers thousands of movies and TV shows to stream online for $7.99 a month. Double that rate includes the option of ordering DVDs in the mail.

Redbox kiosks offer rentals at $1.20 a night for DVDs, $1.50 for Blu-ray and $2 for video games.

Other viewing options abound, like movies available on iTunes, Amazon.com and Hulu.com.

Blockbuster has tried to adapt with lowered prices, online rentals and a streaming option.

But it wasn't enough.

"Geez..." wondered Jonathan Tilley of when he last rented from Blockbuster. "Four years ago? It's been awhile."

He watches movies on Netflix, he said, because it doesn't even require leaving the house. He also rents from Redbox, which he prefers because movies can be returned to kiosks at any location.

"It's more convenient," said Tilley, a Spokane resident who happened upon the Blockbuster sale.

The store closure was heartbreaking for Christina Motsenbocker.

The Hayden woman rents movies there with her two boys all the time, she said. They love the prices, the selection.

Motsenbocker dropped Netflix because the content is "all garbage," she added.

She also just enjoys the interaction that comes with visiting Blockbuster, she said.

"You can say, 'Hey, what do you recommend? I don't know what I'm in the mood for,'" said Motsenbocker, who isn't sure what she'll use for movie watching now. "It's discouraging. Especially when we love movies. It's a family thing."

While staff at the Hayden store couldn't comment on the closure, employees confirmed that Blockbuster members would receive a free month of mail rentals after the closure. The Hayden Blockbuster has been around for more than five years, but the corporate headquarters didn't know just how long.

Chris Huckins, who fears DVDs are on their way out, purchased a handful from the Blockbuster sale.

The Athol resident will miss the store, he said. He rented there after giving up on Netflix.

"They don't have new movies," Huckins complained about the website.

Now he will have one less rental option, he added.

"I've never tried Redbox," he conceded. "I guess that's next."