Current Events > Netflix to make brick and mortar stores.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/14/1205971022/netflix-house-brick-and-mortar-locations

Netflix recently shuttered the longstanding mail-order DVD service that led to the closure of video stores around the world and ushered in the era of streaming. But now the company appears to be embracing brick and mortar.

According to a Bloomberg report quoting Josh Simon, the company's vice president of consumer products, Netflix aims to open a network of stores offering retail, dining and live entertainment that leverage its TV shows and movies.

Netflix has not announced what it will be selling at the locations; it's unclear if DVDs or any type of physical media will be part of the inventory.

The streamer plans to open the first two of these "Netflix House" locations in unannounced cities in the U.S. in 2025. It hopes to expand the concept to major cities around the world thereafter.

"We've seen how much fans love to immerse themselves in the world of our movies and TV shows," Simon told Bloomberg. "And we've been thinking a lot about how we take that to the next level."

Netflix did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment.

Though Disney, a major Netflix competitor, has been in the retail, dining and live entertainment spaces for decades, such offerings have not yet been part of Netflix's core brand. But the company has recently been dabbling in these areas.

Earlier this year, the streamer opened a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles featuring menu items created by chefs associated with Netflix cooking shows. The company has also launched pop-up stores offering merchandise from its hit show Stranger Things in cities such as Paris, Las Vegas and Chicago.

It was also involved in The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience, a traveling production that recreated sets from the Netflix show Bridgerton with actors, live music and dancing.

It's not unusual for successful online brands to gravitate to the physical world. Amazon, for example, opened brick and mortar stores and acquired Whole Foods Market.

"Netflix is an ecosystem. It opened a merchandise shop a couple of years ago. It's investing in mobile games. It's more than just a place for your remote control to gravitate to at the end of a long day," said Rick Munarriz, a senior media analyst with the investment advice company, The Motley Fool, in a statement to NPR.

"Success in the real world through location-based entertainment is the spoils of victory for a leading tastemaker. If Disney and NBC Universal can operate theme parks I give Netflix a decent shot of succeeding with this venture."

But NPR TV critic Eric Deggans is less convinced about Netflix's forays into the real world.

"It sounds like Netflix is trying to do what Disney does," Deggans said. "But Disney has been doing what Disney does for a very long time. And the amount of money Netflix would have to spend to actually compete with them doesn't make any sense to me."
Deggans added: "I think it's some kind of weird experiment that they probably will not do for very long."

Lmao

I... wat?

for...dvd rentals?

Should make a Netflix Land. Have attractions based on Addams Family, Squid Games, and Stranger Things.

This reminds me of Apple making like a lanyard attachment for their AirPods LMAO

That's...an odd direction.

If you happen to live in or near Bend, Oregon, that sound you just heard was the staff and owners of the last surviving Blockbuster Video collectively screaming "Oh, come on!" out of sheer frustration, followed by wailing and gnashing of teeth.

curious to see how this will land--they definitely have the opportunity to create a Disney World-esque attraction featuring characters from Netflix Originals

ClayGuida posted...

Should make a Netflix Land. Have attractions based on Addams Family, Squid Games, and Stranger Things.

Arcane, One Piece, The Witcher

Kill Blockbuster
Devour Blockbuster
Become Blockbuster

Weird flex to become the thing you killed but okay

Soon

"After renewing its land lease, Netflix closes down its physical store anyways"

Their goal is to kill everything in their industry and then take over the shell of their remnants, so this isnt too surprising.

Plus, they make billions monthly, so if this flops and they lose millions they wont even notice it.

I can't imagine ever wanting to go to something like that

tremain07 posted...

Weird flex to become the thing you killed but okay

We hurt the ones we love.

Ill have one Bojack

SomeLikeItHoth posted...

Arcane, One Piece, The Witcher

they do these interactive experiences with a company called fever, Ive worked on stranger things and bridgerton

1. Destroy brick and mortar video stores
2. Stop selling DVD and move to streaming
3. Offer 30 day free trials to corner market
4. Stop offering free trials
5. Raise price
6. Raise price
7. Raise price
8. Crackdown on account sharing
9. Become a brick and mortar store when company losing money
10. ????

WingsOfGood posted...

1. Destroy brick and mortar video stores
2. Stop selling DVD and move to streaming
3. Offer 30 day free trials to corner market
4. Stop offering free trials
5. Raise price
6. Raise price
7. Raise price
8. Crackdown on account sharing
9. Become a brick and mortar store when company losing money
10. ????

10 is their active attempt to kill movie theaters and make streaming the only option.

11 is to kill TV.

12 is to make everything throwaway content.

Terrible idea by another under experienced exec

Fuck yeah I'm all for this

Never gonna go to one but I like that it exists

We're coming full circle. Blockbuster is coming back, baby!!

Interesting... Netflix have been able to capitalize in trends and survive much bigger corporations coming in and trying to muscle them out of the streaming business.

Blockbuster died because it didn't adapt. I have to hand it to Netflix for trying new things before the streaming bubble crashes.

Torgo posted...

Interesting... Netflix have been able to capitalize in trends and survive much bigger corporations coming in and trying to muscle them out of the streaming business.

Blockbuster died because it didn't adapt. I have to hand it to Netflix for trying new things before the streaming bubble crashes.

Ho will the streaming bubble crash though? It's the only way to watch tv, practically speaking.

Battle not with Blockbusters, lest ye become one.

Cocytus posted...

The streamer plans to open the first two of these "Netflix House" locations in unannounced cities in the U.S. in 2025. It hopes to expand the concept to major cities around the world thereafter.

Probably LA and NYC

Netflix of all people should know this is a terrible idea.

So a second Block Buster?

Time is a flat circle

Prestoff posted...

So a second Block Buster?

I imagine they will sell merch.