Kalispell Blockbuster store closing

With an announcement that the Kalispell Blockbuster store will close at the end of this week, video stores are becoming increasingly scarce in the Flathead Valley.

The Blockbuster store, which has been located on West Idaho Street near Main Street since 1995, temporarily closed on Monday so store staffers could prepare for a four-day sale in which all items from games  to movies will be sold for $5 each.

“Our landlord has opted not to renew our lease and unfortunately that’s what prompted it,” said Nicole Dinsman, regional manager for the Bravo Entertainment franchise that owns the store.

Last fall, the Blockbuster corporation announced plans to close up to 1,560 out of 4,356 locations across the country by the end of this year. And last week, the company reported a $435 million loss in the fourth quarter of last year, driven by a revenue decline of 18 percent.

Industry analysts partly attribute the company’s problems to competing kiosk rental sites, DVD mail rentals and on-demand rentals.

But Dinsman said those factors didn’t figure into the Kalispell store closure.

“The store was actually doing well and we had a great staff,” she said.

There currently are no plans to reopen in a different location. “At this time, no, just due to the nature of the quick departure ... we haven’t had an opportunity to look elsewhere yet,” Dinsman said.

Bravo Entertainment has five other Blockbuster locations, all in Idaho.

The Blockbuster closure comes on the heels of two Movie Gallery Inc. stores closing in Kalispell. Movie Gallery stores remain open in Whitefish and Columbia Falls and on U.S. 2 in Evergreen and on East Idaho Street in Kalispell.

Nationally, Movie Gallery Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection last month, its second bankruptcy reorganization in the last three years.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com