Thursday, March 6, 2014

Coming to Town: Massage Envy



Massage Envy is coming soon to a portion of the former Blockbuster video location on Foothill Boulevard.  Tenant improvements (T.I.s) are still being made at the multi-tenant property, and we’d like to share with you a cool find.  Uncovered beneath the former Blockbuster site’s interior veneer is brick and concrete siding painted with a Ford logo.   







The lettering is only partial, so we’ll have to do a little digging in the archives to find out more.  In the coming weeks, we hope to bring you some details about the property’s history.  If you have any information that you’d like to share with us, we’d be happy to hear from you by email planning@ci.monrovia.ca.us or phone (626) 932-5565. 

Aside from Massage Envy, a few vacancies still exist at the property, and we’ll keep you up to date on those units as soon as we hear something. 

Why Did Blockbuster Leave Us?

O how the times have changed.  It seems only yesterday that Blockbuster was the heavyweight champ of home entertainment.  Having effortlessly put mom and pop contenders and other national chains down on the canvas, Blockbuster looked to be the unconquerable champion.  However, sticking (and moving) with our boxing analogy, Blockbuster didn't see the left hook coming.     

According to legend, a man named Reed Hastings returned a late copy of Apollo 13 to his local Blockbuster in 1997. He was assessed a $40 late fee in what was likely the costliest charge of Blockbuster's existence. Two years later, the worm turned and Mr. Hastings founded Netflix.  In 2000, Blockbuster reportedly had the opportunity to purchase Netflix for $50 million, but passed. As Netflix gained more of a following and market share increased, Blockbuster attempted to catch up with the mail order service by copying pieces of the red envelope company's business model. In an attempt to compete with another red colored company, Redbox, Blockbuster also ventured out into the standalone kiosk model.  Dethroned by contenders such as Netflix and Redbox, the once complacent champ has struggled to return to its former glory. 

Fast forward to the present, streaming media is the new frontier of home entertainment. The options are plentiful and the competition is fierce.  Netflix, Amazon, Redbox, Roku, Hulu, and cable or satellite providers offer thousands of options at your fingertips.

As for Blockbuster, it was purchased by DISH in 2011. All remaining brick and mortar store locations have been closed, with the exception of 50 locations nationwide.  So why keep the 50 open?  They're independently owned mom and pops with no plans to call it quits.