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11/07/2018 7:12 am
My first visit to the Danville area Mall and the Franklin Mint store 2001..
I had been a member of the new D4C since 1995. in 2001, I was excited to have the local members in the SF Bay area meeting at the Danville area mall (forgot the name) where there was a Franklin Mint store.
There were I think five or six D4C members and Jay Olins showed up for support. First time I met him. He was genuinely interested in all of us, our stories, and the hobby.
A soft spoken, and refined person, of infinite patience. He was still approachable and smiling.
I purchased the Packard convertible shown here (thank you Mr. Sufficool), after a brief boost from Jay as to the Packards status in the automotive world.
A lunch discussion was no less enjoyable. I discovered that Jay and i have the same birthday and that cinched my opinion of him! A fine person, a wonderfully talented, and gracious man. He will be missed. photo no longer available
11/07/2018 7:19 am
Thanks for sharing that with us! That is a fine looking Packard
That along with the red up top are must haves IMO
11/07/2018 1:20 pm
Nice Christopher, thanks
11/07/2018 9:21 pm
Pleasanton, Stoneridge Mall
Yes, those were the days, a great meeting among local diecast collectors. I was also there with Jay Olins, picked up Jay at Oakland Airport, very enjoyable chat on the 20 minute drive to the Mall. Jay, a true gentleman and enthuiast. Store employee Dave Avery was also there.
At another die-cast rallye at that same store, we arranged for a special van to bring George Dill to the event. Because of the weight of the van and Georges electric wheelchair, driver opted to stay off the freeway and we took the back roads. It was wonderful for George, homebound 99.9% of the time, when George exclaimed COWS!! It had been years since Geope had seen cows, Never crossed our mind that staying off the freeway was a real treat for George.
Funny/sad story about that store. FM employee Dave Avery first learned about the store closing when the new tenant came in to measure the carpet.
12/07/2018 5:43 am
The only FM store I ever visited was the Beverly Hills store on Rodeo Drive.