Many readers can remember a time, not so long ago, when a weekend wasn't complete without a trip to Blockbuster or some other video rental store.
You would hope the new release you were looking for was available. If not, you'd find something to rent.
First it was VHS tapes - "be kind, rewind" - and then came the DVDs. Video games were a staple, too, along with candy and other snacks.
But something happened. Netflix appeared with its home delivery of DVDs. One monthly price and no late fees. It wasn't long before more widespread broadband Internet service allowed the next advance, streaming, to dominate the way we consumed entertainment at home.
Now the once-mighty Blockbuster is gone. So are Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, Hastings and other chains.
One brick-and-mortar video rental company managed to hang on, though. Until now. The final nail in the rental-store coffin came this week when the last remaining major chain, Family Video, announced it was shutting down.
Family Video, with about 250 stores across the U.S., will cease operations, shutter locations and liquidate inventory.
That leaves a few independently-owned stores and the Redbox kiosks as the only places to rent DVDs these days. And you have to wonder how long they will last.
Change is inevitable and all business models must adapt or die. Streaming killed the video rental stores. And with Hollywood film studios announcing first-day release streaming deals, it looks like the movie theaters might be the next to face some very tough choices.