Netflix has opened an offline experience center called Netflix House, which has garnered a rating of 4.6 stars (from 86 reviews) on Google Maps just 5 days after its opening, matching the rating of the nearby King of Prussia shopping mall, but its popularity is quite far behind.

This venue is 100,000 square feet and is a converted abandoned Lord & Taylor department store, filled with themed areas and escape rooms based on hit shows like "Stranger Things," "Squid Game," and "One Thing." While it's not a vacation destination like Disney (which has a parking lot of 1.8 million square feet), it's a nice place for locals to visit.

The Dallas store opens next month, and the Las Vegas store will be newly built in 2027. Is Netflix trying to use these offline stores to attract fan loyalty, or is it really aiming to create an offline entertainment empire? Currently, it seems to be filling vacant commercial real estate while also promoting its brand, but whether it can operate sustainably in the long term remains to be seen.

Interestingly, the first two stores were converted from bankrupt department stores and are not in the best geographical locations. The third Vegas store is the only one in a newly built commercial complex. Can Netflix really revitalize these underperforming shopping center locations? It is worth observing.