Netflix is opening stores soon — but don’t expect a ‘Blockbuster’ revival

Netflix, but IRL.
By Tim Marcin  on 
the netflix logo as a physical sign
Netflix, but IRL. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Netflix isn't shipping DVDs anymore, but it's apparently planning on opening actual physical stores soon.

However, don't get too excited about the possibility of returning to the Blockbuster golden era. The stores aren't going to be video stores. Instead, they're going to be massive merch pop-ups.

Everything we know about 'Netflix House'

Bloomberg reported that the streaming giant plans to open brick-and-mortar retail shops dubbed "Netflix House." The idea is to bring some version of Netflix to the real world. That means merch, of course, and also experiential elements such as a Squid Game-inspired obstacle courses and food from shows on the streamer.

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

It makes sense that Netflix is trying to capitalize on taking their shows IRL. After all, it's already done it before. The streaming giant has an online merch shop and it's rolled out immersive IRL experiences for Squid Game.

Details on Netflix House remain scarce, but it seems like yet another way to get money out of your pockets amid its rising prices and crackdown on password sharing. But hey, maybe you'll be able to go on a first date in the Love Is Blind pods.

Topics Netflix

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Tim Marcin

Tim Marcin is a culture reporter at Mashable, where he writes about food, fitness, weird stuff on the internet, and, well, just about anything else. You can find him posting endlessly about Buffalo wings on Twitter at @timmarcin.


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