It must be at least two people because I have posted only once – the recent "Dying in Austin". The report for Austin is true and my opinions are honest. There's more: the aisle that used to have "impulse purchase items" now has a row of "Frys" labeled tote bags – a holdover from the Austin's failed "no more plastic bags" policy. Those bags are nothing but placeholders now, they're not going to sell. The big, marble-floored center aisle which used to have rotating displays of merchandise is now empty all the way to the back of the store.
Why so many reports? For many people this store was the last place in town to obtain electronic supplies: wire, solder, transistors, computer cases, plugs, jacks, connectors, etc. All of the older electronic supply houses in Austin have closed, Radio Shack is gone and Best Buy has a pitiful supply of some computer parts. – the other stuff, forget it. The social aspect of the store is gone also: people talking about motherboards, memory, builds, the then-new flat screen TVs, etc.
General merchandise stores like Sears have closed down but so have others like Montgomery Ward and K-Mart. People have alternatives: Target and Walmart. What if the last Target or Walmart in town closed? It would be a big deal.
Frys is the last one in Austin for the electronic enthusiasts. It's distressing to watch.