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Most Recent Posts About Quest ComputersPosted Feb-26-08 18:22:12 PST Updated Feb-26-08 18:23:35 PST Quest
Network Services started originally as a Bulletin Board Service (BBS)
back in May of 1994. Quest BBS of Chicago hosted by sysop, Kristofer
Luck with the help of Matt Aldmeyer started quest with the hope of
getting people to communicate better by connecting a series of computer
called today a Network. Quest's network of computers soon grew when
they offered something none of the other BBS's in the area offered. A
way to e-mail others off of the board. You could actually send a
message not only to a friend on the BBS, but outside as well. Quest
developed a true form of E-mail very similar to what we use today. The
only draw back was that it wasn't instant. A user would have to wait 24
hours for the e-mail to be sent as the system batched up the e-mails
and sent them all at once at 12 midnight. Users also had the ability to
share files with one another using the upload and download option. When
the internet made its début, users started dropping off the board and
moved on to other networks such as Prodigy, and a new company to come
about, American Online. It was at this moment of time Kristofer Luck,
the sysop decided that there needs to be a place that users can go have
a cup of coffee and work on a computer. In 1995 Kris took an old bed
room in his fathers house and converted it into a computer lab.
Although, the Quest computer lab only had 3 computers and one printer,
it served the neighbors well because they could go to Kris¿s place and
work on things for school. In 1997 with most of the world off the BBS¿s
and on the Internet, Kris decided to focus on building and repairing
computers. At this time, Kris had started collecting lots of old PC¿s,
printers and other things. Most of it was junk, but Kris found a use
for most of it. The BBS was turned off and a website was created for
what was left of the old users. The site provided a lot of similarities
that the BBS had but more. Users could find others on the web to chat
with and share files with. This went on until 1998, when Kris¿s
computer building kept getting more and more busier that he out grew
the old attic room and needed to find a place to keep the business
separated from the home and more space. At this time, Kris met a man
who owned a martial arts store in uptown. An area 4 blocks from the
lake. This man needed lots of work on his computer network and was
willing to trade space for help with his network. He had an old office
that had been empty for years and was willing to give it to Kris for
time he spent working on his network. And so the agreement between
Kristofer Luck and Jay Shin with East-West Martial arts space began.
Kris moved his computer parts and tools to this office. In this office,
Kris started the whole translucent computer case design and began
building several of these computers. Kris built a total of 135
computers in this office space until a note came from the owner of the
property explaining that the property had been sold to a commercial
developer who wanted a lot more money for the space than could be
given. So Kris immediately started looking for a place to move Quest.
East-west martial arts moved and so did Kris by December of 2000. In
August of 2000 Kris found a storefront on Ashland and Lawrence still
located in Uptown. This would be Quest¿s first time to be open to the
public. The shop was an old storefront in the basement of an apartment
building. It wasn¿t much, but it kept Quest alive for the year it was
there. Kris not only built computers, but also formed a new network of
computers that users could actually come in and use the computers by
paying for time. Kris had printing services and a way for users in the
neighborhood that didn¿t have computers or could afford them, a way to
use one. It was at this time that Kris moved the entire core operation
to the storefront. Before this time Quest¿s business office was still
at his fathers house. When problems with the storefront got real bad,
especially in the winter with the heat and all, Kris started again
looking for a new place. One that had air conditioning and better heat.
At this time Kris was hanging out at this coffee house called Dons
Coffee Club up in Rogers Park, an area in Chicago near Evanston. There
were several different places that Kris thought of. One was next door
to this coffee house, others were near by. Kris met a man named Phil
Tadros who was talking about opening a coffee house- juice bar on
Sheridan Rd. He said there were empty stores next to the space he
wanted to open. So Phil showed Kris the space with the owners of the
building, and Kris thought about it. In July of 2001 Kris made the
decision to take the storefront on Sheridan Rd. A lot of construction
work began on this space. The old carpeting was removed, painting had
to be done and a new lock was put on the door. The place had been empty
for 18 years. So there was 18 years of dirt, dust and grime. The old
pink walls were changed to a bright cheerful yellow. The boarder was
changed to a navy blue and so was the door. Once the paint was done, a
new blue commercial grade carpet was put down. On August 3rd, 2001,
Kris packed up Quest and moved to Rogers Park, Quest¿s present
location. It had 2 universities and an upcoming neighborhood that was
doing a lot and changing for the better. Kris purchased some antique
furniture and began setting the place up. ¿My whole idea for the
internet café part of my shop was to develop a space that one could
feel as though they were home and not in some office space. My neighbor
sells the coffee and they come over to use the computer.¿ Once the
furniture was in place Kris didn't like the office style fluorescent
lights. So with the help of a friend David Hoff a professional
electrician, the fluorescent lights were ¿un-plugged¿ and the new
halogen track lights were installed with new switches and wiring. |
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