Whole Earth Access Explained

Whole Earth Access
Type:Private subsidiary
Fate:Shuttered
Foundation:Berkeley, California U.S. (1969)
Defunct:1998
Location:2950 7th Street, Berkeley, California 94710 U.S.

Whole Earth Access (19691998) started as a countercultural retail store in Berkeley, California. In the early 1990s, Whole Earth Access had seven stores in Northern California. After filing for bankruptcy in 1996, all stores closed in 1998.

History

The Whole Earth Catalog was preceded by the "Whole Earth Truck Store", a 1963 Dodge truck. In 1968, the "Truck Store" finally settled into its permanent location in Menlo Park, California.[1]

In 1969, a store that was inspired by (but not financially connected with) the Whole Earth Catalog, called Whole Earth Access opened in Berkeley. The store had the Leopold's Records Teletype Model 33 ASR which connected to the Community Memory Project SDS 940 mainframe computer.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

In 1978, two brothers, Larry and Gene Farb bought the Berkeley store on Shattuck avenue.[9] The first store, located in an industrial area of Berkeley, sold various brand names sought after by young affluents at a discounted price. Salespersons were technology-savvy and knowledgeable of their products. Gene Farb managed electronics and photographic merchandise, Larry Farb[10] managed hardware and appliances, Laura Katz (Larry's wife) ran the housewares and clothing departments, and Toni Garrett (Gene's wife) handled book sales and mail order.[11] The store also built some of the computers it was selling,[12] The second store opened in Marin County in 1982, and the third in San Francisco in 1985.

According to a 1985 issue of the store's Whole Earth Access Mail Order Catalog, (named after, but not connected to the Whole Earth Catalog which it also sold):

Larry Farb commented in 1986 to the Los Angeles Times that, "we've grown up with our customers [...] the person who bought wood stoves in the 1970s is buying cappuccino makers today."

In the early 1990s, the company opened four more stores in Northern California, contracting debts to finance the expansion. In 1992, its sales peaked at million.

In 1995, the San Jose and Concord stores were closed.[13] In 1996, Basic Living Products, the parent company of Whole Earth Access, closed the Foster City and Sacramento stores, and filed for bankruptcy protection.[14] [15] [16]

In November 1998, the three first and last stores of Whole Earth Access (Berkeley, San Rafael, and San Francisco) went out of business.[17] Co-founder Gene Farb died three years later, in 2001.

External links

Notes and References

  1. The Museum of Modern Art Library, exhibition Access to Tools: Publications from the Whole Earth Catalog, 1968–1974

    , Apr 18–Dec 10, 2011

  2. http://www.well.com/~szpak/cm/index.html Community Memory Project, 1972-74
  3. Web site: Change Is Possible . 2023-01-18 . 2016-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160520031203/http://www.well.com/~szpak/cm/cm-2-Leopolds.jpg . live.
  4. Web site: Doc Benway wanders into the Whole Earth store to check out what's happening in Community Memory . 2023-01-18 . 2016-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160422003452/http://www.well.com/~szpak/cm/cm-6-walkthru.jpg . live.
  5. Web site: Find Energy Crisis . 2023-01-18 . 2016-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160422070443/http://www.well.com/~szpak/cm/cm-7-walkthru.jpg . live.
  6. Web site: Remembering Community Memory / The Berkeley beginnings of online community . 13 December 2001 . 18 January 2023 . 3 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161003062754/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Remembering-Community-Memory-The-Berkeley-2842143.php . live.
  7. Web site: Community Memory: Precedents in Social Media and Movements . 23 February 2016 . 18 January 2023 . 3 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190703085220/https://www.computerhistory.org/atchm/community-memory-precedents-in-social-media-and-movements/ . live.
  8. Web site: Patty Hearst's America: What "American Heiress" gets wrong (and right) about an insane time and place. Salon.com. 18 August 2016. Andrew O'Heir. 9 September 2016. 9 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160909122901/http://www.salon.com/2016/08/18/patty-hearsts-america-what-american-heiress-gets-wrong-and-right-about-an-insane-time-and-place/. live.
  9. News: Whole Earth Access files for Chapter 11 . . May 2, 1996 . . June 8, 2015 . June 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150609072134/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Whole-Earth-Access-files-for-Chapter-11-3154984.php . live.
  10. Book: Whole Earth Access Mail Order Catalog: Access to quality products for good living at the lowest possible prices . . . 1985 . . Inside front cover . 12234855 . 0898151325.
  11. News: One of Fastest-Growing Chains in U.S.: Whole Earth Access Stores Are 'Bargain Basement' for Yuppies . . May 19, 1986 . Victor F. . Zonana . E1–E2 . 2012-07-27 . 2015-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151025164058/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-05-19/business/fi-6039_1_wood-stoves . live.
  12. Web site: Gene Farb, founder of Whole Earth chain. Sfgate.com. 21 June 2001. 9 September 2016. 17 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160917095806/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gene-Farb-founder-of-Whole-Earth-chain-2908276.php. live.
  13. Web site: Whole Earth Access shutting two outlets. Sfgate.com. 24 July 1995. 9 September 2016. 17 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160917073224/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Whole-Earth-Access-shutting-two-outlets-3138902.php. live.
  14. News: Whole Earth Closing Last 3 Stores . . November 11, 1998 . Carol . Emert . June 8, 2015 . June 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150609072132/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Whole-Earth-Closing-Last-3-Stores-2979621.php . live.
  15. Web site: Earth's Mother Exits Chapter 11 . 19 March 1997 . 18 January 2023 . 11 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170811182801/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Earth-s-Mother-Exits-Chapter-11-2849665.php . live.
  16. Web site: Bay Area Top 100 . 28 April 1997 . 18 January 2023 . 11 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170811182804/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/BAY-AREA-TOP-100-3123436.php . live .
  17. News: Whole Earth Access says it's closing all stores . San Francisco Business Times . November 11, 1998 . . July 16, 2008 . July 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070701030339/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/1998/11/09/daily7.html . live.

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