Business & Tech

Blockbuster to Close a Third of Its Stores; Brick Location to Become Restaurant

Fate of Toms River store at Route 37 unknown

Those who enjoy strolling through the aisles of the local video store in search of a Saturday night flick may find that task more difficult soon.

Blockbuster Video, once among the leaders in video and DVD rentals, plans to close 500 stores in the coming weeks, according to a report on Reuters.

The closings, which will take place during the first quarter of the year, include a Blockbuster store on Route 130 in East Windsor. The fate of the Toms River store on Route 37 near Route 166 is unknown.

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But two local locations – one in the Kennedy Mall shopping center on Brick Boulevard and one on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River – have already shut their doors.

In December, the Brick Township council approved a liquor license for the former video store in preparation of a Buffalo Wild Wings location opening there.

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Buffalo Wild Wings would not comment on the new location when contacted by Patch.

The company, which announced an increase in fourth-quarter profits, is shifting from store rentals to subscriber services and Dish Network sales, according to press reports. Dish Network bought the struggling video store chain last year.

Blockbuster had been in chapter 11 bankruptcy before the Dish Network purchase, with revenues falling as consumers changed viewing habits.


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