After Philip Ashizawa's family survived the internment camps, they returned to San Francisco, and Ashizawa's father took the helm by opening a new Soko Hardware store, which is still in the same location today.

1. TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The Nintendo Store San Francisco is located at 331 Powell St. in Union Square. Being in the middle of the city, parking is a nightmare, so it’s best to take public transportation. Visitors can easily reach the shop from the Powell Street BART Station.

"Think you guys are ready to shop?" My reply echoes the words of former Nintendo Chief Operating Officer Reggie Fils-Aimé when he tested the Wii Board at E3 2007: My body is ready. Japanese gaming giant Nintendo opened its first-ever West Coast store in San Francisco on Thursday -- the second in the US after its New York City storefront.