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By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer
POSTED: 05:28 p.m. EDT, Jul 09, 2009
The Blockbuster movie store in West Akron near the Wallhaven area will stop renting movies on Sunday in preparation for its closure next month after nearly 15 years.
On Monday, the store at 1935 W. Market St. will become a retail-only store, selling off used movies and games until it closes Aug. 22. (Newer releases and games most likely will be transferred to other locations for rentals.)
Movie buffs who frequent the shop, which opened in October 1994, are upset by the closure and decision by Blockbuster not to open another nearby store. They've launched a petition campaign and a Web site to make their displeasure known to Blockbuster and the landlord.
Replacing the Blockbuster will be an AutoZone store, an automotive repair retail outlet, confirmed AutoZone spokeswoman Brenda Berry. It will open in mid-November, said Berry, who had no further details on the new store.
Blockbuster and the building's landlord, Levey & Co., were unable to reach an agreement on a new lease. Blockbuster officials said the chain wanted to remain in the location but Chris McFarland, director of leasing for Levey, said Blockbuster chose not to exercise a right to renew its lease for five years, instead opting for a shorter term. McFarland said all previous renewals from Blockbuster had been for five-year terms.
''We do believe with AutoZone we did find a good suitor for the space and a retailer that will commit to the space and the community for a long time,'' McFarland said. The landlord did not want to get into a situation where the company closed the store, leaving the space empty, he said.
''We did what we needed to do within our power in order to get a tenant in that space,'' he said.
Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove said the Dallas-based company wanted to stay at the location, but the company does not enter into agreements for more than a few years at a time.
''We did everything within our power to try to stay at that location, including agreeing to a multiyear extension of the lease,'' said Hargrove, adding the lease was not up until the end of the year. Blockbuster leases are typically three to five years and the company was willing to re-sign to keep the store there for three years, but not five years, he said.
''The landlord exercised the right he had to move in a different direction with a tenant willing to make a longer term commitment,'' Hargrove said.
Hargrove said it's the intent of the company to find jobs at other locations for all of the employees.
Longtime patrons like Jacqueline Sheeley and Brian Sean Green-Tuttle are upset at the closure and the distances to another Blockbuster store. The closest is in Montrose, about a 10- to 15-minute drive away.
Sheeley and her 10-year-old son live on nearby Pershing Avenue and often walk to the store every few days. They have a Friday-night movie tradition and Sheeley said she has a movie card to allow her better prices on rentals and her son has a game card to check out video games.
''I'm a little peeved,'' Sheeley said. ''It really is just going to force us to use Red Box [DVD rentals at grocery stores] or something. Just to drive down to Montrose is very inconvenient,'' she said.
Green-Tuttle said going to the West Market Blockbuster store was part of growing up for 13 years. He loved it so much that he took a part-time job at the store as his fourth job. But Green-Tuttle said he's going to quit his Blockbuster job so he can focus on getting people to sign his petition about the store closing. The petition is in the store and also can be signed at a Web site Green-Tuttle and his girlfriend set up, http://www.akronlovesrentingmovies.webs.com
''Blockbuster is my only outlet. I don't have cable, I don't have Internet. I've only got movie renting,'' said the 28-year-old. ''It's just a movie rental place, but when you grow up with something and you're so used to it being there and when it's gone . . . it feels like someone punches you in the stomach if they take something away that's been tradition in your life.''
Green-Tuttle said he hopes the petition will convince Blockbuster to find another location nearby.
Hargrove said Blockbuster officials looked in the nearby area for another location that the current store could immediately move into, but were unable to find anything. There are no plans for a new store at this time, said Hargrove.
But Hargrove said ''the support from the community is certainly something we're taking notice of.''
Hargrove said Blockbuster hopes patrons use other Blockbuster stores or the company's other options, which include a service that delivers movies by mail or movies that can be downloaded onto a home computer or box top on a television through an Internet connection.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
The Blockbuster movie store in West Akron near the Wallhaven area will stop renting movies on Sunday in preparation for its closure next month after nearly 15 years.
On Monday, the store at 1935 W. Market St. will become a retail-only store, selling off used movies and games until it closes Aug. 22. (Newer releases and games most likely will be transferred to other locations for rentals.)
Movie buffs who frequent the shop, which opened in October 1994, are upset by the closure and decision by Blockbuster not to open another nearby store. They've launched a petition campaign and a Web site to make their displeasure known to Blockbuster and the landlord.
Replacing the Blockbuster will be an AutoZone store, an automotive repair retail outlet, confirmed AutoZone spokeswoman Brenda Berry. It will open in mid-November, said Berry, who had no further details on the new store.
Blockbuster and the building's landlord, Levey & Co., were unable to reach an agreement on a new lease. Blockbuster officials said the chain wanted to remain in the location but Chris McFarland, director of leasing for Levey, said Blockbuster chose not to exercise a right to renew its lease for five years, instead opting for a shorter term. McFarland said all previous renewals from Blockbuster had been for five-year terms.
''We do believe with AutoZone we did find a good suitor for the space and a retailer that will commit to the space and the community for a long time,'' McFarland said. The landlord did not want to get into a situation where the company closed the store, leaving the space empty, he said.
''We did what we needed to do within our power in order to get a tenant in that space,'' he said.
Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove said the Dallas-based company wanted to stay at the location, but the company does not enter into agreements for more than a few years at a time.
''We did everything within our power to try to stay at that location, including agreeing to a multiyear extension of the lease,'' said Hargrove, adding the lease was not up until the end of the year. Blockbuster leases are typically three to five years and the company was willing to re-sign to keep the store there for three years, but not five years, he said.
''The landlord exercised the right he had to move in a different direction with a tenant willing to make a longer term commitment,'' Hargrove said.
Hargrove said it's the intent of the company to find jobs at other locations for all of the employees.
Longtime patrons like Jacqueline Sheeley and Brian Sean Green-Tuttle are upset at the closure and the distances to another Blockbuster store. The closest is in Montrose, about a 10- to 15-minute drive away.
Sheeley and her 10-year-old son live on nearby Pershing Avenue and often walk to the store every few days. They have a Friday-night movie tradition and Sheeley said she has a movie card to allow her better prices on rentals and her son has a game card to check out video games.
''I'm a little peeved,'' Sheeley said. ''It really is just going to force us to use Red Box [DVD rentals at grocery stores] or something. Just to drive down to Montrose is very inconvenient,'' she said.
Green-Tuttle said going to the West Market Blockbuster store was part of growing up for 13 years. He loved it so much that he took a part-time job at the store as his fourth job. But Green-Tuttle said he's going to quit his Blockbuster job so he can focus on getting people to sign his petition about the store closing. The petition is in the store and also can be signed at a Web site Green-Tuttle and his girlfriend set up, http://www.akronlovesrentingmovies.webs.com
''Blockbuster is my only outlet. I don't have cable, I don't have Internet. I've only got movie renting,'' said the 28-year-old. ''It's just a movie rental place, but when you grow up with something and you're so used to it being there and when it's gone . . . it feels like someone punches you in the stomach if they take something away that's been tradition in your life.''
Green-Tuttle said he hopes the petition will convince Blockbuster to find another location nearby.
Hargrove said Blockbuster officials looked in the nearby area for another location that the current store could immediately move into, but were unable to find anything. There are no plans for a new store at this time, said Hargrove.
But Hargrove said ''the support from the community is certainly something we're taking notice of.''
Hargrove said Blockbuster hopes patrons use other Blockbuster stores or the company's other options, which include a service that delivers movies by mail or movies that can be downloaded onto a home computer or box top on a television through an Internet connection.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 05:38 PM, 07/09/2009
Was this story posted remotely?
I've never seen an Ohio.com story of this length that was published as one, single paragraph.
Posted 05:43 PM, 07/09/2009
All blockbusters will be closing within the next 5 years. Why pay $4.25 per movie when you can pay $1.00 at Redbox (WHICH ARE EVERYWHERE): )
Akron, OH
Posted 05:46 PM, 07/09/2009
======================
Replacing the Blockbuster will be an AutoZone store, an automotive repair retail outlet
======================
Betty...
AutoZone doesn't offer any REPAIR services.
They are strictly a retail sales business of automotive parts and related maintenance items.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:47 PM, 07/09/2009
Well, wake up, Overtaxed Voter.
Hudson, OH
Posted 05:51 PM, 07/09/2009
Why complain about a business idea that is dying everywhere. This is natural, it's not the economy (US or Akron's), Soon there will be no more Blockbuster. The brick and mortar video store's days are numbered. Soon all you will have is Netflix and Redbox, and really that's all you need. Blockbuster should have been ahead of the game and not behind it, and maybe they could have survived as a company.
I give Redbox about 7-10 years tops and they will go under too. The next step is on demand movies sent right to your TV. Any movies you want anytime. You'll be able to keep the movie for as long as you like on a flash drive either external or built into your TV (not quite there yet). Netflix is already doing this, sort of. There movie selection isn't that good yet.
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 05:52 PM, 07/09/2009
Death by Netflix.
Posted 05:55 PM, 07/09/2009
A guy in Acme #1 asked me, just last week - 'Where is the nearest auto parts store?' I told him S. Hawkins at Wooster or Copley Circle -- the only two I knew of in the area. I am glad to hear an AutoZone is opening nearby!
Hollywood video is still close, and open for now. Just noticed a Redbox outside Walgreens at Pershing, but never tried to use one.
akron, oh
Posted 06:02 PM, 07/09/2009
wow, i never would have guessed that loren eberly and betty lin-fisher went to the same school!! at least betty can formulate a coherent sentence...
Akron, OH
Posted 06:12 PM, 07/09/2009
@RMK
What?
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 06:31 PM, 07/09/2009
@airmon- LOL! I was thinking the same thing!
I hate reading a giant paragraph so I'll have to read it later when/if it's fixed.
Canton, OH
Posted 06:34 PM, 07/09/2009
Props to AutoZone. .
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:13 PM, 07/09/2009
I'm sure business is booming for Autozone in this economy and I'm glad I don't have to go down on S. Hawkins and Wooster and deal with all of the guys asking for money.
Canton, Oh
Posted 07:33 PM, 07/09/2009
LOVE the Redbox. Have two within walking distance of my humble abode.
Posted 08:57 PM, 07/09/2009
dramatic
Posted 10:13 PM, 07/09/2009
bring back Lou and Hyes
Posted 10:13 PM, 07/09/2009
or how bout balluns
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:46 PM, 07/09/2009
Hopefully the auto zone will carry Kevlar... This area is quickly going down the toilet thanks to the lazy AMHA entitlement zombies roaming the streets of west akron.
AKRON, OH
Posted 11:02 PM, 07/09/2009
Way to go bootleggers!
akron, oh
Posted 11:21 PM, 07/09/2009
This is sad news for west Akron. The Autozone on s hawkins is a trash pit. There is trash everywhere along with people jacking up their cars and working on them in the parking lot. I drive by there everyday and am amazed that a corporation would allow this. West Market and Hawkins area is already in a downward spiral and this is the nail in the coffin.
akron, OH
Posted 12:23 AM, 07/10/2009
Airmon, hilarious.
Ah well, retail is retail, glad to see the spot will generate cash flow.
Blockbuster was a good stick while it was there, although I hated losing Videotime first. But saw this coming at least 3 years ago, which is a long time in the modern world.
Atlanta, GA
Posted 01:30 AM, 07/10/2009
Ah, Videotime. Roadrunner Video was always a favorite along with Video Theatre.
akron, oh
Posted 02:19 AM, 07/10/2009
Why rent when you can wait 6 months and buy every movie cheaper?
Akron, OH
Posted 03:25 AM, 07/10/2009
@overtaxed: I noticed the format as well. And yes, it's auto repair retail. The parts are to REPAIR cars. And it's a RETAIL store because you walk in and buy things. I doubt anyone is buying parts to build a car from scratch.
@Commuter1950: S Hawkins or the NAPA on Shiawassee.
@AK47: Kevlar, sure. I see the people dining at Ken Stewarts across the street wearing it all the time.
@Zipped86: S Hawkins is messy, but State Road store is clean. And stop being melodramatic - oh no, chain autoparts stores that are in all the suburbs as well. Nail in the coffin - give me a break.
@Minna: Videostores are out the door. I agree.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:41 AM, 07/10/2009
Betty,
Did you forget how to write a paragraph? My eyes started crossing with your run-on sentences.
akron, oh
Posted 08:34 AM, 07/10/2009
What put them out of business was the Redbox right next door at Walgreens. Hmmm...go into blockbuster for $4.95 or $1.00 right next door. Not really a big loss for the area.
akron, oh
Posted 09:41 AM, 07/10/2009
Hate to see Blockbuster go but since NAPA left their Shiawassee location I've been missing an auto parts store nearby. There is a Hollywood Video less than 2 miles west of the Blockbuster.
Wadsworth, Oh
Posted 11:00 AM, 07/10/2009
West Akron congratulations!! You will soon inherit the same urban mess that Wooster-Hawkins sees. Enjoy!
Go Steelers!!!!!, .
Posted 11:28 AM, 07/10/2009
In other news, a negative outlook can shorten your life span.
http://www.healthandage.org/professional/health-center/7/news-home/1628/Personality-can-affect-life-expectancy.html
akron, oh
Posted 11:31 AM, 07/10/2009
"...Blockbuster leases are typically three to five years and the company was willing to re-sign to keep the store there for three years, but not five years, he said."
If that makes sense to ANYONE please let me know...
akron, oh
Posted 12:05 PM, 07/10/2009
@johnny,
That makes perfect sense. I know bars downtown that have backed out of deals for the exact same reason. As poster JSS previously mentioned, most likely there won't be any retail stores left in 5 years.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:04 PM, 07/10/2009
@ Akron is imploding
What exactly does working on ones own vehicle have to do with "urban mess"?
akron, oh
Posted 01:21 PM, 07/10/2009
@GHResident: What exactly does working on ones own vehicle have to do with "urban mess"?
Exactly what I was thinking. Now why would I pay $350.00 for a break job when I can buy pads and rotors for $90.00 and put them on myself in a little over an hour? Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
akron, oh
Posted 01:48 PM, 07/10/2009
/\/\/\
Akron is imploding is trying to be cute saying that bringing a Auto Parts store to the area will downgrade the area.
akron, oh
Posted 02:19 PM, 07/10/2009
@yogolak,
I just don't understand the fact that they routinely sign 5 year leases but won't in this case. Maybe too many movies and games were being stolen?
akron, oh
Posted 02:33 PM, 07/10/2009
@johnny,
I understand what you are saying, but I have a feeling that is a thing of the past now. I'm sure Blockbuster is re-examining their philosophy on practices like that.
akron, oh
Posted 02:35 PM, 07/10/2009
For those of who can't remember past the '90s, this is not the first auto parts store in this area of West Akron. West Gate plaza for years had in big giant yellow-orange letters A-U-T-O P-A-R-T-S on it roof. Right next door to the GrapeVine. I bought all my parts there until they closed and moved shop to State Road Plaza. I look forward to the convenience of an Autozone in West Akron again. If the Autozone on State Rd is any example, they keep parking lot clean and the employees are more than helpful with any problem, they'll be a welcome addition to this side of town.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:56 PM, 07/10/2009
@Unbelievable --> exactly... such a pain to go all the way down Hawkins or all the way to State Rd. --> Wish it was going to be an Advance though - they are usually cheaper than the Zone, but the Zone has most of the specialty tools to rent... BTW --> as the article states, Blockbuster offers a service similar to Netflix etc., so Netflix didn't kill it --> People's buying habits are changing. Why go to a physical store when you can do it all online?
akron, OH
Posted 04:30 PM, 07/10/2009
@nathan g: as soon as they open the bums will be walking around asking for money.Autozone is a discount parts store they sell cheap parts and you know how it is you get what you pay for. Watch out for the hoodies they will be next.
Posted 07:39 AM, 07/11/2009
Just shows to go ya what is happening to this end of town...an autozone type store supports a certain clientele.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:16 AM, 07/11/2009
As long a management polices the working on cars in the parking lot, I am okay with this. The other problem will be people working on cars in the vacant lot by the old Fairlawn Lanes. That could be trouble.
I agree with Rubberman. I would like to see Lou and Hye's again! That or at least bring back Strawberry's!
:0)
