atari8warez Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Why wonder everyone of us (included me) does not take a photo , is that because too common to see Atari Stores in those days ??? Probably for the same reason we don't take pictures of any other computer dealerships today, if we did, passers-by would probably think we are crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Macy's in New York City had the coolest Atari 400/800 set-up. I wish there were pics of it. All I remember was it was dark with the cases all lit up. Lots of glass/mirrors. Unfortunately nobody else remembers this. Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Maybe Macy's own photo as marketing tool to attract them to buy their Atari 400/800 at their store ? Would Macy's has archives old film 35 mm photo somewhere in their "Macy's Library" for Employers only ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Maybe Macy's own photo as marketing tool to attract them to buy their Atari 400/800 at their store ? Would Macy's has archives old film 35 mm photo somewhere in their "Macy's Library" for Employers only ? Yea, I wondered if maybe they took pictures of their displays considering they are such a famous store. I just need to find somebody that works there? Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 You find out how to get the photo at Macy's in Manhattan ? What street was that ? Park Ave ? Famously & rich people live that street ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wright Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I can't begin to tell you how much I wanted to visit this UK store back in 1985 but I was 11 and 50 miles from Birmingham :-) Compumart in Leicester was closer and I wondered what the store looked like, but again, never got to go there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akator Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I can't begin to tell you how much I wanted to visit this UK store back in 1985 but I was 11 and 50 miles from Birmingham :-) Compumart in Leicester was closer and I wondered what the store looked like, but again, never got to go there. It would be cool to see that ad in much higher resolution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npturton Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 NEW ATARI ONLY CENTRE OPENS There has been quite a stir around Birmingham in recent weeks with the opening of the Birmingham Atari Centre run by Home Entertainments Ltd. The shop is believed to be the U.K.'s first dedicated Atari Centre selling Atari Home Computers and supporting software and peripherals. No Spectrums, no Orics, no Vics, nothing but the best! Before embarking on this venture Home Entertainments did a lot of market research amongst existing computer owners and intending purchasers. They found an almost unanimous response, what people wanted was somewhere they could find detailed information on their computer, where they could ask questions and be confident of obtaining a direct and knowledgeable reply. In short, somewhere that dealt with their computer and their computer only. A specialist shop. With the Birmingham Atari Centre, Home Entertainments have set out to provide just that. All of their staff are Atari owners and enthusiasts headed by Retail Sales Manager Keith Mason whose whole philosophy is to provide a complete service for the Atari owner. Keith told me, " What we hope to do is build a reputation on service and knowledge of the whole Atari scene, so that any Atari owner, or prospective purchaser, will know that he can come to us in the full expectation of finding what he wants or having his questions answered." To this end, the company has been working closely with the local User Group and hope to establish a back-up service second to none. If the folks in the shop can't answer your question they should be able to put you on to someone who can. At the moment the Company are concentrating on providing a first-class service for users in the West Midlands. They will shortly turn their attention to Mail Order but only when they know they can extend their service to this area. They have also introduced a Home Demonstration team, again staffed by people with Atari background, to provide you with a demonstration of the Atari Computers in your own home where you can see the machines to best advantage and ask whatever questions you wish. Here again the emphasis will be on after sales service as they are conscious that home computing goes far beyond just buying a piece of hardware. Once you have bought an Atari, you can be confident that the full knowledge and assistance of the people at the Atari Centre will be available to you. The shop has only been open a few weeks but already Keith Mason has built up a considerable number of contacts in America and was one of the first in the U.K. to learn about Atari's new machines. With the phone lines buzzing between here and the U.S., there should be no more long waits for news to reach the U.K., which can only be to the good of all U.K. Atari owners. The prospects certainly seem exciting but only time will tell whether the U.K. can support a dedicated independent Atari Centre. With many of the other 'specialist' shops drifting away to other machines there is certainly a need amongst Atari owners for such a centre but also a lingering doubt about whether a retail outlet dedicated to one machine can survive. That will depend very much on the individual user. If only Atari would recognise the amount of support and enthusiasm that exists for their machines and adjust their marketing accordingly, there would be no doubt about the success of the Birmingham Atari Centre and of Atari as the number one computer in the U.K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Hello Mark, Is that image from local Magazine ? or somewhere else ? Is possible for you to zoom up bigger & clear picture ? WOW , that is my first time to see much "Atari Center" store in UK ! I am more interesting to find "Atari Center" store in America ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 One more question , has anyone make a visit to 212 Board Street, Birmingam, UK ? What is there ? New Business store ? Ask the owner if he brought from former Atari Owner ? Anyone willing to volunteer such make a visitation there ? I am sure there are plenty of Atari Users around in UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Macy's in New York City had the coolest Atari 400/800 set-up. I wish there were pics of it. All I remember was it was dark with the cases all lit up. Lots of glass/mirrors. Unfortunately nobody else remembers this. Allan I lived in Manhattan in 1984 and I do remember their computer department as you describe it. But that was too late for the 400 and 800, I think. Must have been XLs by then. I do remember the Apple //c on display there when it came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 What street was that you saw Apple //c at Macy's ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 What street was that you saw Apple //c at Macy's ? Is there more than one Macy's building in New York City? Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 I don't know. You need to remember which street that you saw Apple //c there in 1984 when you were live there at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snicklin Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 I can't begin to tell you how much I wanted to visit this UK store back in 1985 but I was 11 and 50 miles from Birmingham :-) I AM FUMING!!!!! I LIVED 20 MILES FROM THIS (AND WAS A CHILD AT THE TIME) BUT I NEVER KNEW THAT THIS PLACE EXISTED. ALL THAT TIME I WANTED MORE SUPPORT FOR THE ATARI AND MY MOTHER NEVER TOOK ME UP BROAD ST. IN THOSE DAYS ON OUR VISITS TO BIRMINGHAM. (IN MORE RECENT TIMES THOUGH I HAVE HAD A FEW TIPPLES AROUND THERE). I'VE ONLY JUST BY READING THIS FOUND OUT THAT IT EXISTED AT ALL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 THE Macy's at 34th and Broadway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Then be kind to visit there when you has your spare time whatever you are ready to stop by in Birmingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Hello ClausB, Then be kind to visit there and ask for the archives of old photo when they took a picture both Atari 8 bits and Apple //c (That you saw it). Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Sorry, I no longer live near NYC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Yes, as I noticed you stated "Michigan" in your photo below.... I had been there in Mich. before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleman jack Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 There once was a shop in Hollywood, Florida that only sold Atari 8-bits and Commodire 8-bits. It was at the now closed Fashion Center Mall. That was a great place. They'd let you play almost any game, including a few that used a modem. It was like War Games, only I didn't really understand what was going on because I was too young. But I do remember being floored by Shamus on the 800. Anyway, I don't know what the name of this store was, and doubt it was what you're looking for. But it was a great, short lived shop in South Florida in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There might be photos floating around on the web. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 11, 2013 Author Share Posted March 11, 2013 Cool. I used to live in Fort Lauderdale for 2 years in 1984 to 86. I used to visit ONE and only once at Official Atari Store in Jacksonville, FL. I never took any picture , darn me !! I remember that store was inside of those Mall. I do not remember the name of Mall. I never pay attention cause I was a kid like you were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Perhaps your quest is now fulfilled, but if not, you might write to Bruce at B&C Computervisions www.myatari.com His catalogs used to have pictures of his store, and he might be willing to share and let you post it here. -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmel_andrews Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 The store that svenski (and i am guessing snicklin) is talking about was called H.E.C (Home entertainment centre) according to page 6 (the old page 6, not the one that morphed into NAU) they went under and Software express got the spoils and took over their location (i think it was either in broad street or alum rock road)....never went there myself (have never been to brum) Sillica shop in Kent was a dream though, The entire Frontage (apart from the sillica sign (and atari logo) looked more like a log cabin (with a few windows) I didn't think too much of sillica's London shops, a bit plain but very homely The best Atari shop/store i ever saw in town was called 'Games Centre' (I can't be too sure if this evolved into either the Palace games store or virgin megastore), all i remember is that they had a green frontage with black lettering (Plus the heaps of A800 games and hardware, hell i even remember seeing the original disk version of Loderunner) They had a couple of Locations either end of oxford street The closest i came to seeing the kind of store snicklin and svenski were going on about was hamley's gaming and computer area (which at the time took up most of the lower ground floor), just imagine something like tottenham court road way back when, condensed into 3 quarters of an entire shop/store floor space (and they did have a decent atari area, a8 and vcs) The only Atari shop i ever wanted to visit outside London was Atari world/Red Rat in Mancs....only had one opportunity but couldn't find the street and no locals had ever heard of fennel street (it didn't help that i got off at the wrong part of mancs, Piccadilly instead of victoria) I think I still have a c.1986/87 Sillica shop catalogue (i.e. in the days when they were still charging 50 quid for an XL KB replacement) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIO99 Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Does anyone know when Silica Shop closed down? I've just done a search and couldn't find a date. I think it was in the early to mid 1990s. I feel I must point out that Silica Shop was in London Borough of Bexley, not Kent, although the Postcode system has never been updated. I should know, because I lived in that area! As for the lack of pics, I've been thinking about three kinds of technology in two stories. I read a story in a magazine such as "Tales to Astonish", "Astounding Stories", or "Creepy Worlds" where a man bought an old camera, set the lens to 2.0 but found the pictures he got didn't look like what he thought he'd taken. He found out that the number was actually 20 and he'd taken a picture of what was there 20 years previously. He later managed to take pics of himself as a boy and even managed to travel back in time by superimposing a recent picture of himself onto the picture of 20 years before. That's a bit far fetched, though. Something similar also happened in an early episode of Red Dwarf. I also saw something similar done in the series "Continuum", but they were only going back to the night before. I'm looking forward to machines which can produce pictures from brainwaves of memories. Silica Shop was near the corner of Hatherley Road and the High Street. I've actually found a pic of the opposite corner of Hatherley Road dated 1982, when I think Silica Shop was there. So near, but so far! I now plan to try and do some artwork showing what Silica Shop was like. Look forward to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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