(TNS) — Former 1990s retail icon Blockbuster might be returning, but not in a way you might expect.
The owner of the BlockBuster trademark is toying with the idea of new ventures. According to an Instagram post, Blockbuster could return as a nightclub, amusement park, or restaurant.
A November 2023 filing from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office confirms the speculation, detailing the owner’s requests.
The Goods/Services section of the filing states that the brand is looking to trademark “Night clubs, amusement centers, and entertainment services in the nature of an amusement center attraction.” It continues detailing an interest in “bar, restaurant, and snack bar services.”
A movie and dinner could be combined in the future, but it is unclear if these restaurants and other establishments would include the ability to rent videos, which was the retail chain’s primary business model in the past.
According to Taste of Country, this isn’t the first time the brand has tried to expand its reach. In the ‘90s, Blockbuster introduced “Block Party,” an indoor theme park designed for adults and included a high-tech maze and a motion simulator ride. The park was tested in Albuquerque, N.M., and Indianapolis, Ind., under the leadership of ex-Disney executives Bill Burns and Fred Brooks.
Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and shut down its corporate-owned stores in 2014. The last remaining Blockbuster is in Bend, Ore., and is owned by Debbie and Ken Tisher.
