On October 19, 1985, the first Blockbuster video-rental store opened in Dallas, Texas. Most video stores were small local businesses with a very limited selection of titles. Blockbuster opened with some 8,000 tapes on display and a computerized check-out process. The first store was a success and Blockbuster expanded rapidly, eventually becoming one of the world’s largest providers of in-home movies and game entertainment. By the mid-1990s, many of the stores were closing because of digital video and streaming services.
