City Calls for Removal of Outdoor Redbox Machines

Wondering where all the Redbox DVD rental machines have gone? Well, the City of Alexandria has recently required the removal of machines stationed outside 7-Eleven convenience stores.

These machines are operating in violation of existing special use permits. According to Barbara Ross, Alexandria’s deputy planning director, all operations at 7-Eleven stores must take place inside. By running a cord outside to power a Redbox machine, the permits are violated.

“It’s our job to enforce these permits,” Ross said.

Ross didn’t know if it was Redbox or 7-Eleven that has since removed the machines.

“We hope they can manage to retain the machines and move them inside the store,” Ross said.

Alexandria resident Todd Warren noticed Monday that the Redbox at the 7-Eleven closest to his house had been removed. He stopped by the on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Tuesday to purchase a bottle of water and noticed the Redbox was missing there as well.

Warren asked the manager what happened and was told that the city required the removal of the machine.

Warren said he relies on Redbox for his movie rentals.

“Now it’s just on-demand on Comcast or using other people’s Netflix,” Warren said.

Editor's note: The spelling of the word "cord" was corrected in this story.