Federation Trading Post

Federation Trading Post was a fan run Star Trek and science fiction merchandise company, and museum.
There were two stores, one in New York City (opened October 11, 1975) and one in Berkeley, California (opened in 1975).
Different interviews and articles give different information who founded the stores, but it appears that both stores were founded and owned by Chuck Weiss and Sandy Sarris. "The most successful time in his career appears to be a five-year stretch in the late '70s when he owned two retail stores in Berkeley and New York City. Federation Trading Post specialized in Star Trek gear, later expanding into Star Wars. He says People magazine did a story on him during the height of the sci-fi '70s." -- Ron Barlow and Doug Drexler ran the store.
One early mention of the Berkeley store was in 1975: "Trekstars Unlimited wants to rent a micro or mini which can be programed with Star Trek computer games. Plans to offer games on terminal in store. (The Federation Trading Post in Berkeley). Contact Stephen Lampen." from an ad in "Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter," editor Robert Reiling, Mountain View, CA, v.1, issue 8, October 31, 1975 
In early 1976, "People Magazine" also did a lengthy write-up about the Berkeley store (scroll WAY down): .
Judy Thomases was the liaison for the press party when the New York store opened. from Who's Who in Star Trek Fandom 
At some point, the doors to the New York Store closed (perhaps 1977) and it became a mail order catalog.
==Addresses==
Federation Trading Post -- East: 210 East 53rd Street in New York City.
Federation Trading Post -- West: 2556 Telegraph Road, Berkeley, California.
From an ad: 
 
 
See some 1975 video footage here: .
==Descriptions==
===From a Press Release===
 
===From a Book===
From All About Star Trek Fan Clubs, a quote by Ron Barlow: 
===From One of the Founders===
From Doug Drexler in 2010: 
From Doug Drexler in 2016: 
==Copyright and Trademark Comments by Sandy Sarris==
In mid-1976, Sandy Sarris (one of the company's founders) wrote about concerns regarding fandom and profit, copyright, trademarks, and the increasingly lucrative market for Star Trek items: 
==Fan Comments==
A fan in 2017 tells about visiting the store when he was an amazed ten-year old. See the original article link for several very excellent photos: 
From a fan in 2021: 
==A Federation Trading Post Star Trek Computer Game==
Fans could play computer games at the Berkeley store. 
They appear to be offered as early as 1975: From an ad in a computer club newsletter: "Trekstars Unlimited wants to rent a micro or mini which can be programed with Star Trek computer games. Plans to offer games on terminal in store. (The Federation Trading Post in Berkeley). Contact Stephen Lampen." from an ad in "Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter," editor Robert Reiling, Mountain View, CA, v.1, issue 8, October 31, 1975 
One such game was in 1977, one created by Dave Needle: 
==Similar Companies==
See List of Fan Run Star Trek Merchandising Companies.
==Further Reading and Viewing==
* (1975)
* (scroll WAY down) (1976)
* (2003)
* , May 10, 2010
* the federation trading post east by Doug Drexler (includes LOTS of photos), January 31, 2010
==References==
Category:Star Trek TOS
Category:1970s