It used to be one of my favorie stores to visit when I was little. I don't know weather it was a department store that only existed in California, or if they just stoped opening up new locations. Is it still around?

There is a downloadable 80's ad for it in X-entertainment.

What type of store is this?

It was a department store like "sears".

Their 5 dollor catalogs were massive.

I live in Southeastern Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, and there used to be several BEST stores in the area, with the closest one to my house being in Northern Delaware. I think all the BEST stores in my area closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The store was pretty much a catalog showroom, where if you see an item you want to buy, you would fill out a slip with your name and the item's catalog number, then you would take it to a counter to place the order, then you would wait until your name was called and then you would go to the "pick-up" counter to get your merchandise and pay for it. I remember another similar store called BASCO, which BEST I believe bought them out since BASCO stores became BEST.

I remember it. I remember my family bought an iron there in like 94 or 95. I remember you had to ask for the product you wanted instead of getting it off the shelf.

I remember BEST stores. My sister and I went occasionally when we lived in Littleton, CO. I don't know if they were here in MI though.

BEST in my town was more of a catalog showroom. Pretty boring place. My parents only went there to make payments on stuff they bought.

All the cheesy crystal 80s knick knacks that you could stand.

My dad worked in the warehouse at BEST here in MN. He had worked there since 1972 when it was still "La Bells". He was eventually the Warehouse manager, and he had it pretty good until the company went under in 1992.

I live in Oregon and there was a Best in Salem. It has been gone for years. Our family bought several things from Best.

Did anyone grow up in southern california? Remember the BEST store in Culver City, right by the 405 freeway?

I remember it more as a showroom. My main toystore was Toys R Us in Culver City, that store was packed with stuff, what a dream store for a kid. Even though it was junky and kind of dirty and disorganized, it didnt matter.

Although someone had already stated they were like Sears, they were far different in terms of concept than just being a regular department store, as their they were known as a catalogue showroom. There used to be one in my town several decades ago. Today, it's location was turned into a Home Depot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Products

YES. My family used to go there all the time until it closed in the late 80's. One of our Christmas decorations still has a tag from Best.

There was also a BEST in Wilmington, NC that closed up in March 1997 (just two months after I moved there!). After about two years of nothing in its place, it got replaced by a Dick's Sporting Goods.

That's awesome.

hey everyone i am new here.. i just wanted to say i do remember best stores, we had one in everett washington... also before it was best it was called jafeco!

I have very fond memories of BEST. I can't remember when our town's store closed down... it had to have been the mid-90's. Maybe sometime between '93 and '96? I can't really recall exactly.

The store here had a really unique setup. It was basically divided up into two (connected buildings). The one main area had the majority of their stuff, and it was your basic store setup. The other half, though, was this huge wherehouse-looking thing. That is, it had really high ceilings (think like Sam's Club height), and had a really lifeless look to it. Anyway, it was in this area of the store that they kept all of their toys, and so what's why I remember it.

I also vaguely, vaguely remember the electronics portion of the store. I can remember gawking at the Genesis games and accessories through the glass display cases.

Again, I really don't know why I liked that place so much, but I always enjoyed going there.

Oh yeah, that reminds me: this dollar store recently opened up in the wherehouse-area of what was formerly BEST. While the main area of the old BEST is off-limits, you can look in there from the other part. It's really a creepy feeling seeing a big, empty abandoned place like that. I like to go in that dollar store not only because they have some good deals, but also because I get to get a glimpse of what used to be one of my favorite places to shop with my parents.

What about the store called Gayfers?
No one seems to care about Gayfers.
Why doesn't anyone remember or speak of Gayfers anymore?

Best is all over in Okinawa, I bought many a video game there.

Is or was?