Best Products, popularly known as “BEST”, was a national discount catalogue retailer, who had opened its Bismarck showroom in 1979. After filing for bankruptcy for the second time, the company became defunct in 1997 and closed all locations, including the one location in Bismarck.
The former Bismarck location was soon-after converted to house an Office Depot and Big Lots!, both of which remain today. At its height, BEST was one of the nation’s largest retailers, with locations in 23 states, but much like the ill-fated Montgomery Wards, BEST was unable to adapt to changing consumer trends, forcing its closure.
Another contributing factor to the company’s ultimate demise was the company’s investment in constructing expensive, uniquely architectural stores. The Bismarck location, however, featured a typical department store appearance and layout.
The “showroom” offered such departments as home electronics, jewelry, toys, furniture, and recreation equipment.
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