When my father brought home our first Apple II, it came from Computer Systems & Software, an authorized Apple dealer. Back then, this was one of the only ways to get an Apple product: there was no online ordering, few mail-order opportunities, and definitely no Apple Stores, which didn’t debut until 2001.
When Apple opened its first retail stores, doing so cut out the middleman — small businessmen such as the proprietor of Computer Systems & Software. That competition, combined with the advent of Internet sales, made it difficult for mom-and-pop, brick-and-mortar shops to stay in business. It was unpleasant but unexpected when CS&S closed up shop some time ago.
The next victim appears to be one of CS&S’s contemporaries. Tekserve has served New York City since 1987, providing sales and service to consumers and businesses alike. And while Tekserve will continue to exist, its quaint retail outlet — featuring not only classic computers, but “ancient radios, an antique Coke machine… massive old RCA microphones… and a stereoscope with hundreds of photographs” may soon be closing shop.
As reported by Jeremiah Moss, Tekserve will be reducing or eliminating its consumer retail presence this fall. They will continue to sell and service products for small- and medium-sized business clients, so the company as a whole is not going away. But a lot of employees, services, and artifacts are likely to disappear as a result of this transition.
I visited Tekserve in 2012 and received a behind-the-scenes tour, resulting in the below photo gallery. It’s a damn fine place with a heritage of and respect for Apple products — including the Apple II — that you don’t often find. If you can visit the store before their September transition, please do.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
Here are some familiar faces.
Here are some familiar faces.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
Sage advice on both sides.
Sage advice on both sides.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
Need a video adapter or six?
Need a video adapter or six?
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
Where hard drives go to die.
Where hard drives go to die.
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
What I do know is that I want its presence and utility to be as influenced by my Apple II heritage as possible — and that means buying one of Charles Mangin‘s 3D-printed cases. Demoed at KansasFest 2014 and detailed in Juiced.GS, these nifty, tiny replicas are a marvelous marriage of new and old tech.
Mangin can now add "As seen on TV!" to his marketing copy, courtesy Ivan Drucker. As founder of Apple consulting firm IvanExpert, Drucker is the resident go-to guy when New York City’s cable news stations need a sound bite from a knowledgeable, articulate, and fashionable expert. That sometimes means a peek into Drucker’s work environment, as happened last summer when we spotted an Apple II sitting on his office desk.
Ivan Drucker is a name known to many modern Apple II users. He’s the networking genius behind A2SERVER and A2CLOUD and the programming savant responsible for Slammer and NuInput. He’s on the staff of Juiced.GS and was Open Apple‘s first post-debut guest. He’s an all-around nice guy.
But to the residents of New York City — yes, the Big Apple — he’s the founder and chief technology expert of IvanExpert, an Apple consulting firm that’s been providing superior Mac, iPhone, and iPad service for over ten years. The name he and his partner Caroline Green have developed for their company recently caught the attention of their local CBS station. When hackers discovered a way to lock users’ iPhones remotely in exchange for ransom, CBS turned to IvanExpert for a video interview advising viewers how to avoid falling victim to this scam.
While attending WordCamp NYC with representatives of IvanExpert last month, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Jazmin Hupp, director of marketing for Tekserve, New York City’s oldest Apple specialist. She graciously provided us with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tekserve space, from the classroom to the break room to the museum. I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of objects reflecting Tekserve’s and Apple’s heritage, including a typewriter, the Cirqus Voltaire pinball machine, and many models of Apple II and Macintosh models.
You don’t need to have connections to see these artifacts for yourself: several will be placed on display on the main floor July 17 – September 6 as part of the store’s 25th anniversary. In the meantime, this photo gallery should provide an intriguing vicarious experience of my tour.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
Here are some familiar faces.
Here are some familiar faces.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
Sage advice on both sides.
Sage advice on both sides.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
Need a video adapter or six?
Need a video adapter or six?
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
Where hard drives go to die.
Where hard drives go to die.
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
