Computer Store Photo Dump: State Street Computer

~ mpklamerus

Here is a series of ads for a place called State Street Computer in Ann Arbor, Michigan showing the initial excitement for the Amiga, ads selling the computer, and then the final ad for the store showing their liquidation sale. I don’t have dates for all the ads because I saved these images a while ago and didn’t take notes then, but I can guess that it’s roughly from the mid 80’s to the very late 80’s or very early 90’s. These images came from looking through local newspapers and also from the Ann Arbor District Library website.

An ad introducing the commodore amiga for $995.00 and listing the computer's features and the store's address
An ad listing why people should pick up an Amiga instead of a Macintosh
an ad telling people to come see the amiga, the computer for the creative mind
an ad saying that summer is here and listing an special for the Amiga 500 that will save people $500
An ad for their liquidation sale, stating that everything must go. Says that all software is 30%-50% off

There’s a few other ads that I found as well. I’m guessing the freedom of the press one is aimed at college students looking to start their own zines or newspapers since this was right next to the University of Michigan.

Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one! Buy a Computer AND Laser Printer AND Software for only $2995 Atari Mega-2 Computer w/monitor Atari SLM804 300 dpi Laser Printer Microsoft Write & VIP Professional 2 Megabytes of memory User-friendly mouse environment STATE STREET computer 334 S. State, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (313) 663-0090 12 1/2% NBD bank financing available in one business hour.
Before you Kickoff on the wrong foot check out our everyday low prices Commodore PC20-III Clock Speed 4.77, 7.16, and 9.54 MHz Graphics 720x348 Monochrome, 320x200 16 Color, 640x200 4 Color Expansion 3 Expansion slots,1 Serial 1 Parallel port, Separate Hard Disk connector Memory, 640KB Memory Keyboard, Enhanced PC Keyboard Storage, 5 25" 360K Floppy Drive or 3.5" 72OK Floppy Drive, 20 Meg Hard Drive Software Included, WordPerfect v.5.0 $1580.00 our everyday low price IBM PS2 Model 30 Clock Speed 8 MHz Graphics 720x348 Monochrome,320x200 16 Color,640x200 4 Color Expansion 3 Expansion slots, 1 Serial 1 Parallel port Memory, 1MB Memory Keyboard, Enhanced PC Keyboard Storage 3.5" 720K Floppy Drive, 20 Meg Hard Drive Software Included, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word $2025.00 The University price quoted from the 'Computer Kickoff" Come in and see our complete line of Commodore, Amiga, Atari ST, and Delta Gold PC products. Commodore is a trademark ofComnodor Business Machines. Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Inc. Stop in or Call STATE STREET COMPUTER 12 1/2% bank financing available in one business hour. 334 S. State. Ann Arbor Ml, 48104 (313) 663-0090
State Street Computer and Al Nalli's Music Annex Have Joined Forces to Provide Complete Computer MIDI Support! Come in and see for yourself: ■ Advanced but affordable Amiga, Atari, and IBM -compatible computers ■ State-of-the-art sequencing software such as Doctor T's Keyboard Controlled Sequencer V1 .6 for Amiga and Atari computers ■ In-store synthesizers and VHS video editing equipment ■ Superimpose Amiga animation over your video to make a computer graphic music video, or add professional titles to your videos 12 12% NBD bank financing available in 1 business hour. STATE STREET COMPUTER 334 South State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 (313) 663-0090 This ad was produced using an Amiga, Professional Page, and the PSJet+ Laser printer in the State Street Computer Club.

Unfortunately I cannot find any images of the actual store. I looked up the location of the store on Google Maps and it would have been a high traffic spot near the University of Michigan.

Google Street Screenshot from 2011 showing the Nickels Arcade area of downtown Ann Arbor

If you have any photos of the store, I would love to see them posted somewhere.

Sources:
1. https://aadl.org/node/245897
2. https://aadl.org/node/245702
3. https://aadl.org/taxonomy/term/76102
4. https://aadl.org/node/245850

One thought on “Computer Store Photo Dump: State Street Computer”

  1. For me, the most shocking component of the ads are their offers of 12.5% financing in “one business hour.”

    Maybe they had hoped to follow the car dealership model? A loan originating business with a computer store attached to it?

    Reply

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