widowsson Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 I love the service that B. Koda provides, and have never had a problem with ordering, and the service is top notch! Has anyone here ever actually been inside Best Electronics? Is it open to the public to enter? I have the image in my head that it would be like going inside Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory, and would be amazing!!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 There is no inside and you are highly discouraged from just showing up, AFAIK. I lived close to there in the 90's, there is nothing really to it, I am sure you can find some older pics from around that time on Google image search. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_q_atari Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 I asked a few years ago about seeing the place and picking up an order in person and basically it's just not an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+neogeo1982 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 1 hour ago, widowsson said: I have the image in my head that it would be like going inside Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory, and would be amazing!!!! I was thinking more like an episode of Hoarders but everything inside is Atari. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 I know I've read stories of people picking up orders in the past, but would not be surprised at all if that's no longer the case. I'm not sure anyone's seen the interior of the warehouse at all where all the inventory is stored. I don't even think I've ever seen photos of it. ..Al 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LS650 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 2 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 Just now, ls650 said: Is that an actual photo of the place?!?!?!!? 1 1 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 1 minute ago, widowsson said: Is that an actual photo of the place?!?!?!!? Yes. ..Al 4 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Cafeman Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 3 minutes ago, Cafeman said: I think all I've ever seen are external photos of the building like this. ..Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 What is the round white dish above the door? Also, can anyone see what it used to say above the door??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 I was also under the impression he lives on site as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 47 minutes ago, Albert said: I know I've read stories of people picking up orders in the past, but would not be surprised at all if that's no longer the case. I'm not sure anyone's seen the interior of the warehouse at all where all the inventory is stored. I don't even think I've ever seen photos of it. ..Al Pics of the warehouse have been published. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+neogeo1982 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 20 minutes ago, widowsson said: I was also under the impression he lives on site as well? Why is that relevant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 53 minutes ago, widowsson said: What is the round white dish above the door? Also, can anyone see what it used to say above the door??? Satellite / microwave dish, and the text suggests that the previous occupant was Antenna Systems Inc. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Just now, x=usr(1536) said: Satellite / microwave dish, and the text suggests that the previous occupant was Antenna Systems Inc. Yeah, that makes me wonder just how long that dish has been sitting on the building. How long has Best occupied it? ..Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 10 minutes ago, Albert said: Yeah, that makes me wonder just how long that dish has been sitting on the building. How long has Best occupied it? ..Al According to archive.org: On June 29th, 2001, Best's website gave their address as 2021 The Alameda, Suite 290, San Jose, CA 95126. As of the next capture on July 1st, 2001, the website says that they are now at 672 Commercial Street, San Jose, CA 95112, and phone numbers have also changed. Looks like Best has been in there for 20 years at this point. I suspect that 672 Commercial may have always been the warehouse and that 2021 The Alameda was the office address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 1 hour ago, neogeo1982 said: Why is that relevant? It would just be extremely awesome, if true! I would love to live amongst tons of Atari stuff!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 (edited) 36 minutes ago, x=usr(1536) said: Looks like Best has been in there for 20 years at this point. I suspect that 672 Commercial may have always been the warehouse and that 2021 The Alameda was the office address. Agreed. Photos below are of 2021 The Alameda, and it is most certainly an office complex. Edited December 19, 2021 by widowsson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 (edited) This sign shows on Google street view in front of the 672 Commercial location. Is this another business as well? I'm not sure what the word is on the sign. All I can make out is "Best Inpressions ?????? Service". Edited December 20, 2021 by widowsson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 2 hours ago, x=usr(1536) said: According to archive.org: On June 29th, 2001, Best's website gave their address as 2021 The Alameda, Suite 290, San Jose, CA 95126. As of the next capture on July 1st, 2001, the website says that they are now at 672 Commercial Street, San Jose, CA 95112, and phone numbers have also changed. Looks like Best has been in there for 20 years at this point. I suspect that 672 Commercial may have always been the warehouse and that 2021 The Alameda was the office address. The property apparently has 3 different addresses affiliated with it, per the Santa Clara County Assessor: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widowsson Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 There was an allegation made with the City of San Jose in 2019 that someone was living inside the 662 Commercial address: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+5-11under Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 4 hours ago, widowsson said: Is that an actual photo of the place?!?!?!!? 4 hours ago, Albert said: Yes. ..Al And somewhere in there is the Atari holy grail. 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 Folks, we're edging into some really intrusive territory at this point. Yeah, it's all public record and out on the Internet, but out of respect for Brad's privacy I'd suggest we all (myself included) let this one go. 13 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kskunk Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 (edited) I picked up some parts from Best at that building in 2007. I live nearby, so I asked to "pick up" when I placed my order, and then I got a phone call to arrange a time. I remember a normal-enough front office with a desk and filing cabinets, and a brief conversation with the friendly-enough owner. I would've found any excuse to talk Atari for an hour or peek back into the warehouse, but he was all business, so I went on my way. He didn't strike me as the "talk your ear off, hang out all afternoon" kind of person you sometimes meet in this hobby. Alas. Edited December 20, 2021 by kskunk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts