The LA Times called it the first computer store in a story in December 1975. The first ad for the store ran in July of that year. I've put scans of the article and the ad here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/S53vBGs6irzqoLR37
> Message: 7 > Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2020 22:02:53 -0700 (PDT) > From: Fred Cisin <ci...@xenosoft.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: Computer stores > Message-ID: <pine.lnx.4.64.2008222156370.19...@shell.lmi.net> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > When dozens or hundreds start up within weeks or months of each > other, > every one is important, and most are interesting, but "FIRST" or > "STARTED > THE TREND" (implying being the "first") cease to really mean anything. > > It's generally better to never use the word "FIRST"; there is almost > always a lesser known one that was earlier. > > The trend from being a sideline within a business, to becoming the > primary focus of the business can seem anticlimactic, but is what marks > the core of the transition. > Think of Fry's, NLS, etc. > > > On Sat, 22 Aug 2020, jim stephens via cctalk wrote: > > > > > > > On 8/22/2020 9:53 AM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: > >> On 8/22/20 8:52 AM, Murray McCullough via cctalk wrote: > >>> 45 yrs. ago last month, mid-July, Dick Heiser started a new > industry, the > >>> retail computer store. It opened in West L.A. under the name > Arrow Head > >>> COmputer Company. aka, The Computer Store. This began the > direct marketing > >>> of microcomputers to hobbyists, later to the masses of the middle > class, > >>> albeit a small market 45 yrs. ago. > >>> > >>> Happy computing. > >>> > >>> Murray ? > >> Does this precede Paul Terrell's Byte Shop #1 in Mountain View, > CA? > >> > >> --Chuck > >> > > Not soon after, Dave and Tom Freeman, Advanced Computer > Products in Santa > > Ana, CA. > > thanks > > JIm >