“I worked at Blockbuster in 2012, well after its prime.

We had regular customers who would show up EVERY DAY and spend tons of time in the store.”

We’ve lost many of these third spaces that hold a special place for older adults.

A group of children are gathered around and playing an arcade game machine in a lively, indoor setting.

People lacing up figure skates and hockey skates, preparing to go ice skating

An elderly couple and a woman laugh while watching a movie in a theater, surrounded by other smiling people

Two women having a conversation over coffee at a table in a bookstore, with one woman holding a book and smiling at the other

A porch with two chairs and a small table between them. There is a potted plant on the table, and windows with shutters behind the chairs

Three people enjoy a meal at a fast-food restaurant in a mall. One person wears glasses and a hat, another wears a backward cap. They are eating fries and drinking soft drinks.

Exterior of a Blockbuster store with signs reading "Best Selection" and "Newest Releases" on its windows. The store has a large yellow Blockbuster sign above

Front view of an HMV record store, showcasing posters for various music genres and radio station 103.5, with two people nearby.

A man and a boy are playing guitars together in a room filled with CDs and guitars

A man exits a HobbyTown USA store while holding a bag. The storefront features various hobby-related items on display and several signs

A drive-in theater at night with cars parked, facing a large illuminated screen

A group of five men playing flag football in a park, with one man holding the football and running while others chase him, all smiling and appearing to have fun

Group of five people, including three women and two men, hiking through a forest. They are smiling and walking on a trail

A group of young girls  in casual clothing practice a dance routine in a studio with mirrors and wooden floors.

A row of bowling balls at a bowling alley.

A vintage soda fountain setup with syrup dispensers, milkshake containers, glassware, and other equipment typically found in a retro diner

Three people playing pool in a casual indoor setting. One person, with short hair, takes a shot while another in a plaid shirt watches. The third person observes.

Several people, including a woman in a halter top and a man in a t-shirt, work on computers in an internet café named Phone.Net.Cafe

A person skateboards mid-air in a skatepark, performing a trick near a ramp, with urban buildings in the background

Three people are dancing in a studio, wearing casual clothes. The person in the middle is wearing a polka dot skirt and black tights

A group of four teenagers sits around a table with drinks at a Pizza Hut restaurant, engaging in conversation.

An excavator working at a construction site near the coast, with the sea and construction materials in the background