Looking back at Best Products Co., Inc.

One of America's largest catalog showroom chains was Best Products. Founded in Richmond, Virginia in the mid-1950s by Sydney and Frances Lewis, Best grew to a national chain through the early 1990s. Changing shopping habits, and big box merchandisers spelled doom for catalog showrooms (including Service Merchandise, Jewel Mart, U.S. Merchandisers and a few others.) Best Products ceased operations in the winter of 1996. During it's over-40 years in operation, Best Products contracted with the architectural firm SITE to design several of its showrooms. Several of them featured stunning creativity. This video begins with some candids from the Best Products store in Niles, Ohio...continues through some of the SITE stores, the founders and a peek into a few of the catalogs. The final picture is my rendition of what a Best catalog might look like today. The Emotions provide a fitting musical background with "Best of My Love".

These are some candid shots taken at Best Products in Niles Ohio. Best was a national catalog showroom chain based out of Richmond, Virginia. Due to changing shopping habits and competition, Best Products closed in 1997.

Architectural firm SiTE designed several unique Best showrooms, many are pictured here.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• best
• products
• richmond
• virginia
• catalog
• showroom
• niles
• ohio
• ron
• flaviano
• vintage
• shopping
• frances
• sydney
• lewis
• cleveland

[candlstudios]

I worked at the Best Products store in Mountain View, California for 4 years.

I had a lot of fun. I was there when they filed for bankruptcy but left in 1992 so I missed the liquidation.

Great store for a long time but eventually the showroom concept became antiquated.

[freedombear79]

I loved shopping at the Best in Fort Collins, Colorado (currently Bed Bath and Beyond). I remember we could buy almost anything there. I also remember the store going by the name of Labelle's, before it became Best. Thank you for posting this video!

[gabrielthomasmusic1]

@faccac , I used to go to that store.

Whoever posted this video, thank you. I wish this company was still in business.

[maclifer]

The end shot is a Best catalog from 2006 that shows an iPod... I thought they went out of business in 1996 per the info under the video?

[supersaver87]

There used to be a Best in Fairfax, VA...I still have a 1996 receipt from it someplace.

Today, the building is home to a Office Depot and a Washington Sports Club.

[rlewis3225]

what a good memory working at Best Products ...I really miss them Thanks for posting

[faccac]

Cutler Ridge Florida showroom was on US 1 (South Dixie Highway). South of Miami, near Perrine, Fl.

[SwassMike]

@faccac where was the cutler ridge located? Does anyone have the street addresses of the SITE designed buildings?

[Lalo3001]

We had a Best Catalog Store in Torrance, CA at the corner of Del Amo Blvd & Hawthorne Blvd.

The store of course is long gone and there are many other new stores there. The funny thing is the community shopping center there is still called "The Best Plaza".

Gone but not forgotten I guess by the center owners.

[yetdynamic]

sad that they're gone now