Bye Bye, Blockbuster: Northport Location of Former Video Giant to Close

Just as All-Star Video, formerly located in the shopping center, and East Northport Video, formerly in Hewitt Square, fell victim to the rise in popularity of and closed, the same fate has befallen the behometh video rental store that was dominant for over a decade.

Following several years of growth of 'on-demand' video on television and computers, mail-exchange video service such as Netflix and video rental vending kiosks such as Red Box where most rentals are less than a dollar, Blockbuster, Inc. has faltered.

After filing for bankruptcy in September 2010, the company announced Feb. 21 that it had initiated a process to sell the company. Not long after, signs announcing the store's impending April 10 closure appeared on the Northport location.

A current employee of the Northport location said on the condition of anonymity that when the company filed for bankruptcy, it tried to renegotiate its leases. If the landlord would not renegotiate, the store was closed.

A sign on the roof states that the store is closing — this location only, it reads — but as noted by a sign on the door reads,  store is closing April 10, but this isn't goodbye. Huntington Village and Station [will remain open]. Signs on the front windows of the store fairly shout, "nothing held back,"  "All previously viewed DVDs are $5.99 or less!" and more.

Blockbuster, which launched kiosks and by-mail service in the past several years apparently in response to threats from businesses such as Netflix and Red Box, said in a statement on its web site that expects a majority of its U.S. stores, kiosks, by-mail and digital business to remain operational during the process.

Decisions about the closing of stores are being made on a case-by-case basis as part of the recapitalization process.

A Blockbuster located at the corner of Elwood Road and Jericho Turnpike closed many years ago, and in 2005 was reopened as the Elwood Library.

The Ground Round restaurant located in the CVS shopping center closed in 2005, as well and Davis Vision closed more recently. as it hopes to open a second location here. It opened its first store in Huntington Village in December.

A list of things to know, according to Blockbuster.com:

• Blockbuster is open for business during the sale process.
• Its stores, DVD vending kiosks, by-mail subscription service and online and digital businesses are serving customers as usual during the sale process.
• It is fulfilling all orders as usual, including continuing to provide access to new releases the first day they become available.
• The Blockbuster Rewards program remains in effect and participating customers will continue to accrue benefits and rewards as always.
• It is honoring valid coupons as usual.