1:00 AM
El DiPablo
If you have ever shopped at a Fry’s Electronics store, you know full well how incredibly awesome they can be. Anything your geeky mind can conceive, they probably have it, or parts to help you build it (Except Microphones with 1/8” Mini Stereo Jacks, but that is a different post). Well, I didn’t realize it until I moved last October, but some of these Fry’s stores have some seriously elaborate themes!
The store closest to my house is located in San Marcos California, and not only does it have kick ass electronics, computer/networking gear, toys, etc. It is also all decked out in a brilliant Atlantis theme!
I want to point out that Fry’s is not a direct Bauer-Power sponsor, so the purpose of this post is not to get you to head to Fry’s to buy stuff, but to get you to go take a look at how awesome the store is in general!
According to Wikipedia:
Following the lead of the Fremont store, new Fry's locations continued the use of elaborate themes and various designed props until well into the late 1990s. For example, the Burbank store which opened in 1995 is themed upon 1950s and 1970s science fiction movies, and features huge statues of popular characters such as the robot Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still and Darth Vader from the Star Wars movie series. In addition, giant ants (from the movie Them!) hang from the ceiling, and the bodies of 1957 Chevys and Buicks serve as dining tables in the cafe. A flying saucer protrudes above the entrance. With construction, land purchase and theming, the Burbank store cost $15 million to open. [citation needed]
Some other themes include, California stores: Tahiti (Manhattan Beach), Ancient Rome (Fountain Valley), Wild West (Palo Alto), Mayan temple at Chichen Itza (San Jose), Alice in Wonderland (Woodland Hills), History of Silicon Valley (Sunnyvale), Ancient Egypt (Campbell), 1893 Chicago World's Fair (Fremont), Industrial Revolution (City of Industry), California Gold Rush (Sacramento), NASA Space Center (Anaheim), 19th-Century California Railroads (Roseville), and Atlantis (San Marcos). Arizona stores: Aztec temple (Phoenix). Nevada stores: History of the Strip (Las Vegas). Texas Stores: Music Industry (Austin), History of Irving (Irving), Lazy-K Ranch (Dallas), Oil Industry (Houston) and Space Exploration, including a replica of the International Space Station (Webster).[5] Since Fry's acquired the Incredible Universe chain of stores, the company has reduced the elaborateness of its theming. With the opening of the Fishers, Indiana store, Fry's made a "race track" theme with various hanging displays, including "stop" and "go" signs.
I had to go to Fry’s this weekend to pick up a new heat sink and some RAM for my wife’s computer. I had been there before, but this time I decided to shoot some video using my Palm Pre. Check it out:
I’m not sure my Palm Pre really does it justice. If you live in the San Diego area, take a Saturday and head up there. It blows the friggin’ pants off the Mission Valley one!
Got a Fry’s in your area? I would love to see some pictures or videos of it. Post some links in the comments!
