The Blockbuster video store at the Forum Shopping Center on Bend’s east side will be closing its doors for good in July, according to owner Ken Tisher.

The location near NE 27th Street and U.S. Highway 20 is one of three Blockbusters remaining in Central Oregon, and one of 34 left in the country. Tisher, who owns both of the remaining stores in the region, said the larger Bend location, on NE Revere Avenue, will continue to operate, as will the store in Redmond.

Tisher cited lack of demand as the primary reason for the closure, saying that the store downsized at the end of 2013, around the same time that Blockbuster closed all of its corporate stores.

“People came in, saw the construction, and assumed we were closing, too,” Tisher said.

Tisher said the story had around 10 employees, though only two worked full-time. He added that all of the employees would have the option to transfer to the other Blockbuster stores.

Tisher said he had no plans to open a new location in Central Oregon, though he left the possibility open if he could find a good enough location.

—By Stephen Hamway