Monday, June 15, 2020

The remains of Blockbuster Video in Manchester

A return look at the remnants of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.


Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

I spotted the remains of a Blockbuster Video store while driving to Manchester last October. I returned for a look at the Fallowfield Retail Park location during my lockdown daily outdoor exercise time yesterday.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Some more of the inside of the store has become visible since my first visit. You can now see the remains of a computer system, a CRT TV on a desk and a larger CRT TV hanging from the ceiling.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
How TV's should be

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
I wonder what the last film trailer to be shown on that telly was?

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013.

Oh how times have changed since then.

Social distancing


As with all of the other shops at Fallowfield Retail Park the pathways and walls have had Covid-19 social distancing signs and stickers added.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
There's nobody around to observe social distancing from

It's quite something to see the remains of a defunct brand from 'the before times' alongside the signs-of-the-times during the coronavirus pandemic.

Social distancing signs at Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
A Covid-19 social distancing sign on the exterior of the long since closed Blockbuster store

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
The tented bay you can see in the right of the photo is part of a drive-in Covid-19 test facility!

A look at the old store


Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
Did you ever rent games from Blockbuster? I remember buying a few ex-rental PlayStation games from the Luton store in the early noughties

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
Frozen in time

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
I wonder what the last item to be dropped in here was?

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
Some old paperwork

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Unfortunately in the coming months and years we are likely to see a number of other brands disappear.

The last Blockbuster


There is currently one independently owned franchise still operating as Blockbuster in the USA and you can find it in Bend, Oregon.

We were planning to visit Portland, Oregon later this year. The Blockbuster in Bend is 174 miles from Portland and a 3-hour journey by car.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
There used to be a Carphone Warehouse in Fallowfield. That store was another casualty of the retail wars. They actually bought Tandy when that went out of business too. My first job was at a Tandy franchise in my home town back in the 1990s

Blockbuster Crazy Golf


Interestingly there is still another 'Blockbuster' store in the UK. It's part of the Ghetto Golf indoor crazy golf course at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The Blockbuster Video hole at Ghetto Golf in Digbeth, Birmingham
The Blockbuster Video hole at Ghetto Golf in Digbeth, Birmingham

Do you have a favourite defunct brand? Are the remains of an old brand still visible on a building where you live or work? Do let me know.

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