STARRING ROLE: Family appeal, proximity to many gives video chain top billing

Blockbuster is an apt name for the video chain. Since its 1985 debut in Dallas, the company has been the No. 1 player in the international home entertainment market.

The video giant has more than 8,000 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. In New York City, the company's largest market, there are 300 stores. Las Vegas has 44 stores, most of which are owned and operated by Blockbuster.

"Las Vegas is a major market for Blockbuster," said Blake Lugash, a company spokesman in Dallas.

Although the company does not release individual store or market-area rankings, Lugash said, "Las Vegas is absolutely in line" with company expectations for its performance.

The chain has evolved from renting videos, to offering a complete line of home entertainment items, including rentable home entertainment (VHS and DVD movies and video games), new and used movies for sale, and video game hardware and software.

It also offers snacks such as soft drinks and popcorn, and gift cards.

"Gift cards are a big part of our business. One of the attractions of buying gift cards is that there is a Blockbuster store within a 10-minute drive from approximately 65 percent of the U.S. population," Lugash said.

Ashley Wood, assistant manager of the Blockbuster store in the 8300 block of West Cheyenne Avenue in Las Vegas, said that on average, about 1,000 movies and games are checked in and out of her store each day.

Wood believes the company's family-oriented nature accounts for its success. Blockbuster does not carry adult films or games.

"Families can come in and rent movies and not have to worry about their kids seeing something obscene," she said. "We get a lot of families."

The store has 16 employees, six who work full-time.

Lugash said the company has no specific development plans in Clark County for 2003, but that stores may be added based on demand.

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