ANNA KING
Assistant News Editor
While the beach is still intact and the hot tub still running, there is an empty space in the Malibu Colony Plaza — the Blockbuster video rental store which saw it’s last customer Jan. 13.
According to the Blockbuster Web site, the company is one of the world’s leading providers of videos, DVDs and video games, with worldwide revenues topping $5.5 billion in 2002.
The 13,000 plus population of Malibu was not enough to counteract the rising cost of rent and lease prices in the area, the reported reason behind the recent closure, according to Blake Lugash, Blockbuster corporate company spokesperson.
“The Malibu store’s lease was up for the year, and we were unable to reach new lease terms with the new owners of the shopping center,” Lugash said.
The large increase in real estate that California has become known for in recent years has by no means skipped over Malibu, one of the most sought after locations in the state for real estate.
Three years ago, the going rate for commercial space in the Malibu area was estimated at $5 rent per square foot, plus a triple-net charge, a maintenance, tax and insurance fee, at about $1 per square foot. Estimates now are topping around $7 per square foot, according to The Malibu Times.
This increase has affected local businesses in the plaza, especially those that are not corporately affiliated.
In September, the restaurant Granita Malibu, popular with the stars, locals and tourists alike, closed after more than 13 years in business following the owners’ decision not to renew their lease in the Malibu Colony Plaza.
All talk of rent and property values aside, what are students to do about this sudden void in entertainment?
Some are protesting the loss, with a Facebook group devoted to the cause named “Satcob — Students against the Closing of Blockbuster.”
While every student on a mission for a good movie is now in the same predicament, some are putting their energy into working with what is still available in the area, however little that is.
Students have the option to head to Payson library and check-out a DVD from one of more than 600 titles available.
However, most students find that the selection in the school’s library is less than satisfactory.
“The majority of the movies in the library are not for entertainment purposes,” said freshman Zachary Buck. “They are especially not the type of movie I would want to rent after a week of classes.”
While some nostalgic students are able to find a video to their liking in the library’s collection, many more are beginning to look elsewhere to find new releases for their Friday night movie marathons.
“Now when my friends and I want to rent a movie we have to go all the way to Santa Monica,” said Estrada.
Other nearby local video rentals include the Zuma Beach Video & Music on Heathercliff Road in Malibu as well as the Blockbuster video stores in Santa Monica and Woodland Hills.
Some students are using the mail system to their advantage and subscribing to mail rental services such as NetFlix.
“I’ve had NetFlix for a year and it works great for me,” said junior Dion Dohmen. “But when the mail system doesn’t get the movies back in on time, I would go to Blockbuster. Now I can’t do that anymore.”
Blockbuster suggests that students consider going online as well to find the latest releases.
“I would recommend using Blockbuster’s new online renting service, especially since the store in the area is closed and getting to another might be difficult for some customers,” said Lugash.
01-19-2006