Hi all, I am heading down to San Francisco for the first time, but I will be on a rather tight schedule and will only be able to visit one of the Amoeba locations while I am there. I will be shopping for optical media only. I am hoping to hear from all of you who have been to the locations within the past couple of years and can provide feedback on which location I should prioritize. thanks in advance!
For optical media that’s Warby Parker. what exactly are you looking for ? Laser discs? CD? Go San Francisco.
Use to go to SF nearly every Monday [like 50 weeks a year] for a decade +. Haven't been there in half a decade though. Berkeley was cutting back on ceedees the last few years. If you go to Berkeley & are into burgers, go Bongo Burger round the corner on Euclid Ave. If you go to SF check out Cha Cha Cha on the corner, even if only for a drink, cause the bar is like a club. Both are next to famous/infamous parks. People's Park in Berkeley & Golden Gate Park in San Francisco [not Frisco! ]. Enjoy.
If you park in the McDonalds parking lot in San Francisco, you'll only have thirty minutes to shop at that Amoeba location. Otherwise, be prepared to park far away, spend a lot of money on the parking. Don't trip on the poor folks who are sleeping on the sidewalks.
The SF really needs a bathroom for those of us you like to spend an afternoon there . I'm tired of of using the near Wholefood's there
Bongo is a good good bet. If you have an afternoon check out Jupiters on Shattuck. If you DO go the SF store do not I repeat NOT forget to get lunch at Zona Rosa!!!
Real talk: If you're a record store with a stock meant for long-term browsing, you need a public bathroom.
I haven't been over there in ages, is the McDonalds actually gone now? Agree about parking. Similar homeless problem in the Berkeley area if you ask me.
If you decide on Berkeley, I recommend a short walk to the campus and a trip to the top of Sather Tower (check the website for hours). On a clear day the view overlooking the city and out over the bay to San Francisco is fantastic.
If Amoeba stores still put on the occasional live music shows, check out if there's any on the dates you'll be in SF.
Thank you all for the replies! I am really excited now. my wife booked us a hotel down in the financial district, so parking is taken care of, and we will be taking public transportation to reach places. it is sounding like the San Francisco location is the most recommended location, and Zona Rosa for lunch!
WOW, it's clearly been a LONG time since I've been to that San Francisco Ameoba! A Whole Foods across the street and I can't believe that McDonalds is now gone! That neighborhood must truly be in a crisis mode for that to happen? Jesus, next thing they'll be tearing down the old Jefferson Airplane house just down the street from there! Google Maps
Are all the Rasputin locations closed? It is hard to tell, but doing a Google search indicates they are no longer around.
I don’t have an afternoon shopping for music, unfortunately. I will be with my wife, and music shopping holds absolutely no interest for her, so I plan on keeping it down to a minimum and figure one good, long visit to a single location is a good compromise