Helimot moving out of state

[U26A1]

Surprise surprise, a comment thread about one of my favorite people ever going moving out of state turned into a slapfight confusing and conflating a bunch of terms.

• Is California socialist? No.
• Is socialism always inept and bureaucratic? No.
• Does having things like a competent government-funded health system mean you're a socialist country? No.
• Is California using a fucked up system of wannabe-socialist bureaucracy watered-down and ineptly run by plutocrats? Yes.

Anyway, now that we can all agree on that last item: Helmut and Linda are amazing, and frankly I wish they'd been charging way more money for their services. Last year I finally achieved my dream of buying a Helimot suit (snuck in just before the deadline), and honestly for the quality I would've paid at least a grand more. For a full custom suit of the quality he makes . . . it's unreal. I'll miss stopping by the shop at the end of a Palomares or Mines Road run and shooting the shit. I wish them the best of luck and will be buying at least a couple pairs more gloves before they go.

 

[budman]

This affects his crew also. It was always nice to see the smiling faces that made the awesome leathers. I too have to visit.

 

[hophead]

You should hear the story sometime. Between the city and the state I don't know how the guy stayed in business. Every last bureaucrat around lined up for a chunk.

The funny thing is that most people never have their own business and think owners are rich folks getting richer off their sweat. . One of my electricians made $35k more than me one year. It was kind of the last straw. Nice guy, but fuck.

It's too bad really, thank god we have the IBEW!

 

[afm199]

[/B]

It's too bad really, thank god we have the IBEW!

 

[Butch]

This affects his crew also. It was always nice to see the smiling faces that made the awesome leathers. I too have to visit.

According to his web site, open tomorrow 9 to 2. Maybe I'll get another pair of gloves.

Start at Antipastos, over to Sierra, Felter, Calaveras and back, Downing, Old Calaveras, Jacklin, slab a bit, end up at Helimot... Buy gloves.

 

[ontherearwheel]

Well, this surely sucks.

The old shop in San Jose was not too far from where I worked. It was always cool to go there just to hang out. There was always some video on, magazines to read, nice seating area....just a really cool place.

For sure gonna get another pair or two of gloves. I've had one of his suits for over 15 years.....always felt great to slip them on.....even after a lot of years just hang in the closet.

They can not leave without a proper send off........my idea.......pick aday and show up in your Helimot gear. For me that would be suit, gloves and boots. Those Daytona boots are great.

 

[Junkie]

For anyone who doesn't know, he's been around (and in the Bay Area) for over 30 years, making the best leathers money can buy.

For people saying they can't afford his stuff, ask if they have any seconds. Shit happens sometimes, and it'll often result in gear that's 98% of the quality for quite a bit cheaper. I picked up a set of Hi 5 gloves from him last weekend, they used an alternate material somewhere that he decided wasn't quite as good, and he sold them to me for significantly less (and this was after I said that I'd buy a normal set if they didn't have any seconds that'd work well for me).

I also wish I'd gotten a suit.

 

[89fj]

I really liked the way the old store in san jose he had a whole bunch of race event posters all over the walls. Laguna, Sears, etc.
I might have to buy another pair of Daytona boots there before they leave. I've had my current ones for 11 years and they still do the business!

 

[Outta Control]

We will surely miss Helimot but I applaud him for leaving this state with its ridiculous laws and propositions.

Hopefully he will move to M'urica and have a better life to prosper Helimot else where.

The best way to support them is to continue to purchase and promote their products.

 

[Kestrel]

Any idea where he is heading?

Anyone chatted with him directly? Closing down business possibly? Or just relocation?

 

[easter bunny]

Lots of small companies are moving to more business friendly states like Nevada.

The company my wife was working for just packed up and moved over to Nevada due to all the costs associated with operating in CA

I've been to a few chamber mixers where this is the exact plan. Attract CA businesses (specifically high tech like Tesla) to a more business and family friendly climate. I have mixed feelings about that. Reno is downright tiny compared to where I used to live, but I don't want it to become the East-East Bay either.

 

[Junkie]

Any idea where he is heading?

Anyone chatted with him directly? Closing down business possibly? Or just relocation?

He posted something about it on FB last week, I stopped by Saturday to make sure I got another pair of gloves (as I imagine there will be a run on them) and have a modification made to an existing pair.

He didn't know where he was going at the time, I don't know if they've decided on that in the past week though.

I think I saw something implying there's info on it in CityBike but I didn't personally look.

 

[Kestrel]

Citybike mentions it in their latest issue. Can anyone scoop up a copy locally and take a look?

Yikes. Thinking about ordering some gloves tonight ;O

 

[aminalmutha]

Too bad, I hope he does well elsewhere. Soon, the only businesses in CA will be Apple, Google and pr0n.

 

[aminalmutha]

I've been to a few chamber mixers where this is the exact plan. Attract CA businesses (specifically high tech like Tesla) to a more business and family friendly climate. I have mixed feelings about that. Reno is downright tiny compared to where I used to live, but I don't want it to become the East-East Bay either.

It's already happening. Check out housing prices in Truckee.

 

[TTTom]

I've been to a few chamber mixers where this is the exact plan. Attract CA businesses (specifically high tech like Tesla) to a more business and family friendly climate....

Nevada high tech is a joke. It's great if you want a low cost place to build a factory that is totally automated except for a few maintenance/support jobs. Not so great if you need scientists and engineers to develop the products that are going to be built in that factory.

I know which community I'd rather live in.

 

[Lardyboy12]

Oh no, I just bought a pair of boots from him 3 days ago and he didn't say a thing! I'll have to stop by again to see what else I need.

 

[aminalmutha]

Nevada high tech is a joke. It's great if you want a low cost place to build a factory that is totally automated except for a few maintenance/support jobs. Not so great if you need scientists and engineers to develop the products that are going to be built in that factory.

I know which community I'd rather live in.

No worries, in 20 years, Reno will be East East East Bay and the Bay Area will be Hong Kong II. A 3/2 house in the Ghey Area will cost $10M and will be occupied by the children of Chinese billionaires.

 

[turboLT]

No worries, in 20 years, Reno will be East East East Bay and the Bay Area will be Hong Kong II. A 3/2 house in the Ghey Area will cost $10M and will be occupied by the children of Chinese billionaires.

I am preparing for our new Chinese real estate overlords with lots of math classes. Have fun in the mines guys...

 

[easter bunny]

Nevada high tech is a joke. Not so great if you need scientists and engineers to develop the products that are going to be built in that factory.

I know which community I'd rather live in.

The sales pitch is to move those people here. Not just open up a business and hope there's a supporting workforce. Would you rather be a software engineer making six figures in the BA and barely able to afford rent and fighting soul crushing traffic everyday? Or move here, be able to afford a nice home in a family neighborhood, and go skiing in Tahoe on the weekend? That's how I got here - fully paid relo.

So far Tesla/Panasonic have moved in, the new Switch data center is opening, and I've heard Toyota is planning something out there. Microsoft, Intuit, and IGT are all downtown-ish.

No worries, in 20 years, Reno will be East East East Bay and the Bay Area will be Hong Kong II. A 3/2 house in the Ghey Area will cost $10M and will be occupied by the children of Chinese billionaires.

Agreed.