Dothan’s only Blockbuster closes

By Lance Griffin

Published: July 22, 2008

A spokesperson with Blockbuster’s corporate office in Dallas confirmed the store’s closing. That means the Enterprise Blockbuster will be the closest Blockbuster store for most Dothan residents.

Karen Raskopf, spokesperson for Blockbuster, declined to give a specific reason for the store’s closure.

“We have close to 8,000 stores around the world. As a multi-unit retailer, we will often be closing some stores and opening others,” Raskopf said.

She said the store’s closing should not be an indication that the video-DVD rental business is softening. Raskopf said while Blockbuster — the largest video rental company in the United States — is continuing to expand its by-mail rental business as well as its digital delivery, it is still placing a great emphasis on its physical stores.

Raskopf said all of the employees had been offered positions at other Blockbuster stores and that “many” had accepted.

Dothan is the corporate home of Movie Gallery, the second largest video rental company in the United States. Dothan has five Movie Gallery stores and two Video Warehouse rental stores.