Blockbuster Video on Main Street to Close in April

The Smithtown Blockbuster Video location is the latest casualty in the video rental chain's downward slide, and the shop at 120 East Main Street in the Branch Shopping Plaza will close its doors April 10.

A large, attention-grabbing yellow sign adorns the awning that reads, “Store Closing: This Location Only.” However, the Smithtown location is one of many Long Island locations to close as the , , and Shirley locations are also all set to close on April 10.

A Smithtown Blockbuster Video employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the signs say “This Location Only” because all the locations aren’t closing but it appears as if they are because the locations closing are within one area of the Island.

An employee of the Shirley location, who also spoke under anonymity, said the , Huntington Station, Huntington, Center Moriches, Water Mill, Coram, Patchogue and Holbrook locations would remain open.

Last September, Blockbuster confirmed that it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company had been negotiating with its bondholders to restructure its finances and come up with a strategic plan to transform the way it does business. However, on March 11 Blockbuster announced that a judge in U.S. Bankruptcy Court had approved a plan to put itself up for auction.

Blockbuster is facing an assault from all types of smaller services. Rivals such as Netflix and the Redbox DVD and Blu-Ray vending machines seen in grocery stores and outside 7-11 stores have cut into territory Blockbuster used to monopolize. Amazon.com's Instant Video service and Apple's iTunes also offer video downloading straight to your computer.

Combine those options with websites like Hulu that offer streaming video and customers now have a variety of choices aside from traveling to a brick-and-mortar location.

The company made an effort to compete with the Netflix model offering its own Blockbuster by Mail service along with adjusting its pricing plans at its stores. At one point it eliminated late fees only to bring them back last year.

Calls and emails to Blockbuster Video corporate offices were not returned by time of publication.

Port Jefferson Patch editor Lon Cohen contributed to this story.