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Blockbuster closing Freedom Boulevard storeWATSONVILLE, Feb 04, 2013 (Santa Cruz Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The county's last Blockbuster video store is closing. The Freedom Boulevard store will rent movies for the last time Saturday, an employee said. From Feb. 11 through April 7, they will begin selling videos, games and other merchandise at discounted prices, the employee said. Employees said they were not authorized to discuss the closure, but calls and emails to Blockbuster's media relations department in Englewood, Colo. were not returned. An employee said six people work at the store, near Green Valley Road in a shopping center anchored by Kmart. Last month, parent company Dish Network Corp. announced plans to close about 300 Blockbuster stores across the country, affecting about 3,000 employees. Dish Network last year also shuttered about 500 underperforming Blockbuster locations. Hall says the stores that will be closed in coming weeks are either underperforming or nearing the end of their leases. Colorado-based Dish Network bought the then-bankrupt video rental chain in March 2011 for $320 million. The Watsonville store is at 1724 Freedom Blvd. Reach them at 831-763-0795. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Sentinel reporter Cathy Kelly on Twitter at Twitter.com/cathykelly9 ___ (c)2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) Visit the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) at www.santacruzsentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |