Whole Earth Access

Whole Earth Access

Company type	Private subsidiary
Industry	Retail
Founded	1969 in Berkeley, California, United States
Defunct	1998
Fate	Bankruptcy and closure
Headquarters	Berkeley , United States
Area served	Northern California
Key people	Larry Farb, Gene Farb, Laura Katz, Toni Garrett
Products	Electronics, photographic goods, hardware, appliances, housewares, apparel, books, computers

Whole Earth Access operated as a private subsidiary retail business from 1969 until its closure in 1998. Originating in Berkeley, California, it began as a countercultural retail outlet. By the early 1990s, the chain expanded to seven locations throughout Northern California. However, after declaring bankruptcy in 1996, all remaining stores ceased operations by 1998.

History

Before the advent of the Whole Earth Catalog, there existed the "Whole Earth Truck Store," which was a Dodge truck launched in 1963. This mobile store eventually established a fixed presence in Menlo Park, California by 1968.

In 1969, a retail store named Whole Earth Access opened its doors in Berkeley, California. While inspired by the Whole Earth Catalog, it was financially independent. Notably, this store featured the Leopold's Records Teletype Model 33 ASR terminal connected to the Community Memory Project's SDS 940 mainframe computer.

The Berkeley store changed ownership in 1978 when brothers Larry and Gene Farb acquired it. Situated in an industrial district on Shattuck Avenue, the store offered a variety of brand-name products favored by young affluent customers at discounted prices. The sales team was highly knowledgeable and well-versed in technology. Gene Farb oversaw electronics and photographic goods; Larry Farb managed hardware and appliances; Laura Katz, Larry's spouse, directed housewares and apparel; while Toni Garrett, Gene's wife, supervised book sales and mail order services. Additionally, the store manufactured some of the computers it retailed.

Expansion continued with a second location opening in Marin County in 1982, followed by a third store launching in San Francisco by 1985.

A 1985 edition of the Whole Earth Access Mail Order Catalog—which was named after but unaffiliated with the Whole Earth Catalog it also retailed—explained:

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1986, Larry Farb remarked that their clientele evolved alongside them: "the individual who purchased wood stoves during the 1970s is now buying cappuccino makers."

During the early 1990s, Whole Earth Access expanded further by opening four additional stores across Northern California. This growth was financed through accruing debt. The company's sales reached their peak at approximately Template:US$ million in 1992.

By 1995, stores located in San Jose and Concord were shut down. The following year saw Basic Living Products—the parent company—close its Foster City and Sacramento outlets while filing for bankruptcy protection.

In November 1998, Whole Earth Access permanently closed its final three stores situated in Berkeley, San Rafael, and San Francisco. Co-founder Gene Farb passed away three years later in 2001.

External links

• 1992 Advertisement: Whole Earth Access "Apple Macintosh IIsi"