Blockbuster officials tried to get their landlord, a company based in Chicago, to bring the offending signs into compliance, but with no luck, Prince said.

Murray said she never would have closed the store if she had known it would cause problems with the city. Prince confirmed that Blockbuster researched the matter before closing the store, but until she did some checking everyone had thought the store was an outparcel and thus technically not a part of the shopping center.

The building is actually a part of the overall shopping center, Prince said. Council ultimately granted the company approval for a new sign on the Movie Trading Company building alone.

"I think it's the city's problem to deal with the property owner," said Mayor Ken Steele before council unanimously ruled in Blockbuster's favor. "It would not be very good for the city to push out a tenant who has been doing business in the community for a number of years. ... It's really not your problem."

The new sign meets all other city sign ordinance requirements, Prince said.

The store is slated to re-open May 7, Murray said.