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The windows of the Blockbuster in Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center say it all: "Nothing held back!" "Everything must go!"

The store is among a handful of Blockbuster's 7,100 stores nationwide that are being closed due to underperformance, according to spokesman Randy Hargrove. The Burtonsville Blockbuster's proximity to another location in Laurel further made it a candidate for closure, he said.

The Burtonsville location will close Jan. 10, he said. Until then, the store will be selling off its inventory of used DVDs for $9.99 or less.

Some say the closing is just the latest example of stores leaving the Burtonsville area as stores struggle to survive after the construction of the Route 29 bypass. Bill Strassberger, chair of the East County Citizens Advisory Board, pointed to grocery store Giant and Quiznos Sub Shop as other chains that have left the center.

"In our little microcosm, that's definitely indicative of what's going on in that part of Burtonsville, and it's a shame," he said about Blockbuster being the latest store to leave.

Strassberger also said he worries about smaller restaurants in the center being affected by Blockbuster's departure, as many residents will stop in for Chinese food or cheeseburgers during the same trip to rent a DVD.

"Burtonsville Crossing is just getting slammed left and right," he said. "I do my best to go to those businesses, because I know they can use all the help they can get."

"While there are changes occurring at Burtonsville Crossing, this doesn't alter our commitment to the center and attracting retailers that will best serve the Burtonsville community," said Steve Boyle, managing director for Edens & Avant, the company that owns the shopping center, in a written statement. He added that the company will continue to work closely with county officials to "share ideas and plans for retail in this area." 

Chris Jones, president of BMC Property Group, owns the Burtonsville Shopping Center, which is under construction across the street from Burtonsville Crossing. He said he doesn't see Blockbuster's exit as a sign of Burtonsville Crossing's struggle but more as the evolution of home entertainment.

"Blockbuster closing has nothing to do with that shopping center," he said. "It has to do with evolving technology—On Demand and all of that." Jones likened the store's closing to the closing of one-hour photo stores as digital cameras and quality home printers made them unnecessary.

Hargrove said the stores are still an important part of Blockbuster's overall strategy to provide home entertainment. The brand has now expanded to offer other ways to access movies, including Blockbuster Express DVD machines and Blockbuster By Mail. Customers can also stream movies from home three different ways: online, through select Samsung products or on Tivo digital video recorders. Still, the stores remain at the center of offerings provided by the company, he said.

To keep customers with Blockbuster, Hargrove said residents can pick up discounted rental cards at the Burtonsville location or try a two-week free trial of Blockbuster By Mail.

Maybe it's time to try the new technologies allowing people to access movies, Strassberger said.

"I don't know, maybe we'll just have to hook our Xbox [video game system] up to our TV so we can do the online screening of films and be done going to any video locations," he said.