08 Jun 2024
business recommendations
Since there’s a search quality crisis on, a lot of the companies you might find on social media are scams, and a lot of the stuff sold on big retail sites is fake, here are some real businesses I can recommend in several categories.
Updated fairly often. I plan to add more as I shop.
I personally know about all of these and would be happy to answer questions.
art, crafts, gifts
Modern Mouse is a place for local artists and artisans to sell their work.
audio gear
Sweetwater is a good source of pro/semi-pro/office/podcasting equipment. Good support for checking compatibility and other questions.
auto body shop
Fix Auto Alameda No problems with the work, good communications, cooperated well with the insurance company.
beans, canned
books
Books Inc (Several Bay Area locations including Alameda, Mountain View, and the San Francisco airport. If they don’t have it they can order it. Better than ordering from the big online bookstore because they only get books from the real distributor. You will only get legit copies, not those cheaply printed copyright-infringing versions that pay no royalties to the author.)
burritos
Island Taqueria 1313 Park St., Alameda. (Bay Area’s best burritos. All the classic menu items people move to the Bay Area for, consistent quality. El Gran Taco in San Francisco would have been a contender but they’re gone now.)
car repair
Fred’s Wrenchouse has kept a 22-year-old car going for me. (They also provide good recommendations for shops that do the work they don’t.)
car stereo
Crutchfield is famous for compatibility charts and support. Will sell you the right adapters and stuff to do an install. (If you haven’t put in a car stereo using the stuff they supply, it’s a little harder than building Ikea furniture but easier than an electronic kit or advanced Lego set.)
chocolate chips
I use Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Chips or Extra Dark Chocolate Chips in my recipe.
cookies (third party)
Newman’s Own makes a better chocolate/white stuff/chocolate cookie than Oreo®. (Which is good, because the owner of Oreo cookies, Mondelez International, was recently removed from the list of royal warrants in the UK because of the company’s activities in Russia.)
crackers
Golden Rounds Crackers from Trader Joe’s are better than Ritz (another Mondelez product. This is a good thing because Mondelez is Doing Business in Russia as Usual. Better crackers, for less money, and not supporting Vladimir Putin. Another win-win-win.)
delicatessen
Zingerman’s Deli (mail order available)
earbuds
JVC Gumy HAFX7 These
really sound good and come with a set of silicone ear pieces in
different sizes, so in real-world listening situations they sound better
than more expensive options that don’t fit as well. (In my experience
most drama and waste from electronic devices are caused by apps,
firmware, one-sided contracts,
radios, and batteries. These
earbuds have none of those.)
electrician
S O T Electric Inc did a really good job with a major upgrade to an existing house electrical system, and with another, smaller project (adding a circuit).
fabric
Mood Fabrics is a huge store in New York City, with lots and lots of options. No sign of it from street level. Allow plenty of time. (Have only shopped there in person, have not ordered online.)
Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley, California has a great selection of fabric and really good service. (Have only shopped there in person, have not ordered online.)
flour
King Arthur Baking is recommended by people who know a lot more about flour in recipes than I do. The company is employee-owned and provides customer support.
furnace repair
see HVAC
groceries
Honey Bird Market is a neighborhood convenience store that also offers fancy-pants beverages and gourmet items, and frequent pop-up specialty item events.
hardware
HVAC
B.A. Appliance Repair in Hayward, CA (510-701-3638) will work on vintage gas floor heaters. (Yes, some day I want to add a heat pump section to this list.)
irrigation
Internet service
pasta sauce (in jars)
Newman’s
Own Sockarooni Sauce
is chunky and versatile, and also priced
lower than some big brands and way less than the high-end brands. Chop
up and add one extra kind of vegetable to get most of the impact of
totally homemade sauce with a fraction of the work.
pharmacy
Versailles Pharmacy 2801 Encinal Ave., Alameda. Small but convenient, and they can quickly get items they don’t have on the shelf.
plants
Annie’s Annuals and Perennials was the source of some plants that are still doing well, and some of them are even attracting hummingbirds. (The company was recently sold, haven’t gotten anything from the new owners yet.)
Encinal Nursery has good local recommendations for outdoor plants in season, along with a selection of healthy houseplants in the back and all the basic garden supplies like fertilzer and mulch.
plumbing
Gladiator Plumber 1752 Timothy Drive, San Leandro. Have used them for everything from small jobs up to a water heater install. Easy scheduling and consistent good work.
power adapters and cables
Anker makes Lightning and USB cables that last longer than the Apple ones. Better overmolding and strain relief so they don’t get all frayed and crappy. Also good for power bricks and chargers.
roofing
Planchon Roofing & Siding Co did a house and garage roof plus a minor repair, all good.
shoes
Allen Edmonds (available at Nordstrom)
sidewall shingling
stereo repair
transportation
Transbay buses operated by AC Transit are the best way in and out of Alameda unless you have something to do right by the ferry terminal or someone is meeting you there. Lots of stops convenient to the Alameda businesses linked to here, and you will generally get a deluxe bus with comfy seats on a Transbay route.