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Central Park Plaza Blockbuster to close in January

Michael Schrantz

— Another Central Park Plaza business will be gone in January.

Blockbuster is leaving its 3,066-square-foot store between Walmart and City Market by Jan. 20.

“We had to make the business decision,” said Alfonso Garcia, regional sales manager for Blockbuster. “In the future, we may come back.”



Store employees confirmed Wednesday that the last day for video rentals is Saturday, with a six-week liquidation sale starting Monday that will include everything down to the fixtures.

In November, the Steamboat Today reported that Dollar Tree will close its Central Park Plaza South location by Jan. 15.



Dollar Tree did not respond to requests for comment on the store’s closing, but Tim Lowe — with THF Realty, which owns and manages Central Park Plaza — said the business chose not to renew its lease.

Lowe said Blockbuster also let its lease expire.

“Every deal is negotiated individually,” Lowe said about rates and contracts in Central Park Plaza and all THF Realty properties.

Requests to alter rents are more common from local businesses than larger chains, he said.

“We deal with that as part of normal business,” Lowe said. “Sometimes, you look at your sales, and it warrants that.”

Lowe said rates in Central Park Plaza generally are lower than other boutique or high-end retail centers in Steamboat.

“A lot of it get backs to the profit margin in the category,” he said about lease negotiations.

Blockbuster went through bankruptcy in 2011 and was bought by Dish Network in an auction. Earlier this year, Dish Network announced that it was closing more stores than it initially had planned.

Dish Network sells its satellite TV services in Blockbuster stores and reportedly has plans to branch into the mobile phone business, as well. Plans for Blockbuster to compete with Netflix were scrapped.

To reach Michael Schrantz, call 970-871-4206 or email mschrantz@SteamboatToday.com


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