Emperor Supply Inc

Emperor Supply Inc opened its doors in 1983 and has spent four decades earning the trust of Bay Area contractors. The Oakland Chinatown location at 119 10th Street carries a 4.3-star rating from 63 reviews, and the company operates multiple branches across Concord, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, and Orange. This electrical and lighting fixture specialist stocks name-brand products and serves general contractors, sub-contractors, developers, building owners, and facility managers seeking quality supplies at competitive prices. The Saturday hours ending at 5 PM give weekend workers a real option outside big-box chaos.

Unlike the self-serve warehouse experience, Emperor Supply operates a staffed counter where customers request specific parts rather than wandering aisles hoping for stock. The Oakland location focuses on electrical and lighting fixtures, while the San Jose and San Leandro branches expand into plumbing, HVAC, and building materials. Seven California locations mean a contractor working across counties can develop a single account relationship instead of chasing different suppliers in each market. The family-run operation, now spanning multiple affiliated entities, keeps overhead lean enough to pass savings to buyers who comparison shop against Home Depot.

Frank Kooijman found exactly the widgets he needed with no missing parts or wrong items in bins, then discovered Emperor Supply was cheaper than the big box. Francis Wong skipped Home Depot entirely after finding incredible stock for an entire house rewire plus a friendly returns process. One reviewer admitted the counter staff might seem brisk if you do not speak their language, but a moment of patience reveals deep product knowledge. Another customer still shopping was shown lighting inventory unprompted by staff who went out of their way during a browse.