Alex Gordon, like many of us, grew up with the familiar sight of a Blockbuster video store in his neighborhood. So when he stumbled upon a Blockbuster-themed “little free library” for movies in Washington, D.C., he couldn’t resist capturing a few photos.
This nostalgic “Blockbuster” is cleverly situated at the intersection of 15th and Q St. NW in D.C. The setup features a sign adorned with the iconic Blockbuster slogan, “BE KIND, PLEASE REWIND,” and adds a modern twist: “IF YOU TAKE A MOVIE, PLEASE RETURN AFTER VIEWING OR DROP OFF ANOTHER DVD TO HELP KEEP OUR MOVIE LIBRARY STOCKED. THANKS, AND ENJOY THE MOVIES!” While the box currently lacks any DVDs, it is decorated with miniature posters of classic films that many will remember renting from their local Blockbuster stores.
The concept of a free Blockbuster-style library isn’t entirely new to the area. In June 2020, at the height of the pandemic, a similar initiative called Free Blockbuster DMV emerged with boxes in Alexandria and D.C. The Instagram account @FreeBlockbusterDMV began sharing posts in June 2020, amassing a few hundred followers before becoming inactive in December 2020. However, this latest box appears to be an independent effort.
Alex’s social media post about the discovery sparked a wave of nostalgia among his friends. Some even offered to contribute their old DVDs to help stock the new “Blockbuster” location. One friend commented, “I’m doing spring cleaning. I’ll just drop off a bunch to refill it and see how long they last,” while another simply expressed, “I miss Blockbuster.”
The original Blockbuster Video was founded in 1985 in Dallas, Texas, and quickly grew into a cultural phenomenon. At its peak, Blockbuster operated over 9,000 stores worldwide, becoming synonymous with home movie rentals. However, with the advent of digital streaming and online rental services, Blockbuster began to decline, ultimately leading to the closure of most of its locations. Today, only one Blockbuster store remains operational in Bend, Oregon, serving as a nostalgic reminder of the past.
