Blockbuster is closing the last few stores you didn't realize they had

The Blockbuster in Aurora’s West Plaza was setting the trend in 2011. Marissa Amoni/Sun-Times Media

Three years after declaring bankruptcy and innumerable years after dropping out of public consciousness, Blockbuster Video has announced it will be closing its 300-ish remaining stores by early 2014.

“This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution,” DISH president Joseph P. Clayton said in an announcement posted on the internet and not distributed by an outdated medium. “Despite our closing of the physical distribution elements of the business, we continue to see value in the Blockbuster brand, and we expect to leverage that brand as we continue to expand our digital offerings.”

It’s safe to say you can finally take that Blockbuster member’s card out of your wallet.

Also getting the axe is Blockbuster By Mail, presumably because even Netflix realizes by-mail service is on the outs.

An ominous lawyer boilerplate looms at the end of the announcement, a “cautionary statement concerning forward-looking statements.” Make of it what you will.

[Via A.V. Club]