The shelves at the Blockbuster video store in Red Deer’s Easthill Centre were nearly bare Thursday afternoon, as the store liquidated the last of its remaining stock.
Bargain-hunters were lining up at the till with armfuls of videos, which were being cleared at a price of 10 for $10. The store was scheduled to close for good at 5 p.m. today, although a staff member said the end could come sooner if the remaining inventory continued to sell quickly.
The Blockbuster store in Ryders Square at Sylvan Lake was also supposed to shut down at 5 p.m. today. An employee reached by phone said there were still quite a few videos in stock.
The Blockbuster store at Taylor Plaza in Red Deer ceased operations earlier this week, while the 5016 51st Ave. outlet near Real Canadian Superstore has been closed since June.
Blockbuster Canada Co. was placed into receivership in May, with approximately 150 of its stores shuttered soon after. The more than 250 that remained began winding down early this month.
Ronmor Developers Inc. owns Taylor Plaza and Ryders Square. Ryan Darragh, the company’s leasing and development manager, said two offers had already been received on the Blockbuster premises in Taylor Plaza and one on its Sylvan Lake bay.
“They’re both pretty prominent pieces of retail real estate.”
He said Ronmor will likely choose new tenants after the properties have been marketed for a while. They could be leased in their current sizes or as smaller bays, he added.
“We’d look at breaking the space or demising it accordingly.”
Easthill Centre is owned by Jim Pattison Developments Ltd. Its real estate manager, Lorraine Beese, said her company has also received inquiries about the Blockbuster space, including offers.
“It won’t be vacant for long,” she said, noting that Easthill Centre is a busy commercial area that’s been fully leased virtually since it was developed.
Craig Ware, Western Canadian director of corporate affairs for Superstore’s parent, Loblaw Companies Ltd., said previously that the company does not comment publicly on leasing matters.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com
— copyright Red Deer Advocate