Blockbuster Video, Clayton, CA – 2010
There’s something uniquely powerful about the brands we grew up with – the places that weren’t just stores, but small rituals woven into everyday life. From Friday night trips to rent a movie to wandering the aisles of a favorite bookstore or toy shop, these experiences stuck.
MarketBeat, a financial media company, surveyed 3,014 respondents (45+) to uncover which defunct chains Californians most want to see make a comeback.
The top 5 were as follows:
#1 Blockbuster
No surprise that Blockbuster took the top spot. Blockbuster didn’t just rent movies — it owned Friday night. It was the place where indecision became a group sport, and you’d spend 40 minutes debating between a new release and something your friend swore was “actually good,” only to panic-grab both. The blue-and-yellow glow, the wall of new releases, the thrill of finding the last copy behind the box — it all felt like an event. Streaming may be easier, but it’s never quite matched the ritual, the anticipation, or the low-stakes drama of a Blockbuster run.
#2 Fry’s Electronics
Fry’s wasn’t just a store — it was an experience, usually somewhere between fascinating and slightly overwhelming. One minute you were browsing cables, the next you were wandering through themed displays that felt more like a movie set than a shop. It had everything, often in excess, and somehow still felt like you might not find what you came for. But that was part of the appeal — the unpredictability, the scale, and the sense that you were stepping into a world built for people who loved tech a little too much.
#3 Hollywood Video
Hollywood Video was the slightly edgier cousin in the rental world — a bit less polished, a bit more chaotic, but often the place you went when the other store had nothing left. It had that underdog appeal, where you’d stumble across something unexpected simply because your first choice was gone. For a lot of people, it wasn’t just about the movies, but the last-minute pivot, the surprise pick, and the feeling that the best find was rarely the one you planned.
#4 Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks was the dependable mall companion — smaller, cozier, and always within reach. It didn’t try to overwhelm you; it just had enough of everything to make a quick visit feel worthwhile. You’d pop in between errands, scan a few shelves, and almost always leave with something you hadn’t planned on. It was simple, familiar, and easy to return to — the kind of place that quietly became part of your routine without ever needing to stand out.
#5 Borders
Borders was more than a bookstore. It was somewhere you could disappear for a while. Bigger, brighter, and more open than most, it invited you to wander, sit down, and stay longer than you meant to. There was no rush, no pressure to buy — just the quiet promise that you might stumble across something interesting if you gave it enough time. In an era of quick clicks and shorter attention spans, that sense of space and possibility is what people miss most.
I liked the East St store…. now bulldozed for high rise high density housing adding to the glut …. sad
Bend Oregon
This explains Disney adults. Same theory. Different place. All about the memories…
No one reads books anymore. Kids today can barely read. Theyve become iPad kids.
i miss old pizza hut, on a friday night no better place to be as a teen. Maybe the many arcades that used to be Concord.
I didn’t go to Blockbuster much because their selection was too mainstream. I mainly went to locally owned places like Einstein Video in PH until he decided he was not into buggy ships and closed down. I went to Hollywood Video which was nearby and had a better selection. When streaming started up they told me the HV CEO told the industry in 2000 that streaming was going to be the next big thing. He was laughed at.
Blockbuster. We just liked getting out if we weren’t doing anything else. Our son liked seeing classmates while we chatted with the parents. It felt like real America – laid back, congenial, not constantly angry and on edge. And there was the thrill of finding a good film. Snickers played a role in there, somewhere.
Hollywood Video had DVDs for rent before most of their competition.
For a while, we really enjoyed Murphy’s Video. They bolted a box onto our front porch with keys for us and them. We’d call and place an order, and they’d put them in the box. When we were done, we’d call and they would either pick them up or trade them with our next order. It was great for us, but I guess they didn’t make enough money to stay in business.
It’s not so much Blockbuster that I miss, it’s the discontinuance of
the VCR. I have hundreds of movies on videotape, and VCR’s are
no longer manufactured. When I heard they stopped making them
I went to the Goodwill store and bought all the VCR’s they had
(they only had 3) for $12.00 each, and I also found a couple of nice
ones at garage sales. They are all in good working order, so now
if one quits on me, I can easily replace it. The best part is, they are
the same brands that I had previously owned, and I kept the old
remotes that will work with them.
I can’t help but wonder why Mervyn’s didn’t make the list. In my opinion
it should have been on top. One of the best department stores for name
brand clothes, and housewares at reasonable prices.
Mervyn’s was the truth
Loved Bradley Video on Treat Blvd. they had free nachos soda hotdogs etc and huge selection!
I would add Tower Records to the list. Great music and video selections. It is hard to buy music or video blu ray or DVD) in a store and I am not into streaming.
People do miss the idea of it… they do not miss the rental fees / late fees, long lines, busy stores or out-of-stock popular rentals. Take off the rose-tinted glasses, people.
How about The Warehouse in Clayton Station?
Pavilion tickets w/o the systemic scalping.