As a kid my dad always was building computers and I’ll never forget the first time he took me to a Fry’s and I could just pick all the parts to build my PC right then and there. What an experience that was.

I'm generally very positive about technological and economic progress and just defended Fry's being replaced by online stores to my wife. That said, we are losing physical third spaces and I think that's a real problem. Towards the end going to Fry's was more entertainment for me then of practical value. PCPartPicker and online stores are much more convenient than walking around Fry's but if I had a kid who wanted to build their first PC I'd do much rather drive to Fry's together, walk around and check out the parts together etc. Even if it meant we had to go back there more than once because we got the wrong part or something didn't work. The shared effort and other like-minded people around just is a value in itself. My Fry's also was in a mall with a fabulous taqueria. The taqueria by itself isn't worth the drive but made for a great stop right after and turned it into a fun little outing.

We need more things like this but I don't know how to make it work economically. Maybe shopping never was the best focal point for this?

I think the best Fry's of all was the former Incredible Universe location, just south of Portland. I believe it was the only Fry's that didn't charge sales tax.

The Fry's by I8 in San Diego was an Incredible Universe too. (Not the Fry's in north county, the one further south.)