The tech community felt a void when Fry’s Electronics closed its doors in February 2021.The store was a landmark for those in Silicon Valley.

Now, Micro Center,an electronics retailer originating from Ohio,has launched its 29th store in Santa Clara,California. this opening follows the debut of the Nintendo store in San Francisco and signals positive developments for the Bay Area’s economy.

More than just a store, it represents the continued physical presence of technology in Silicon Valley, alongside landmarks such as the Buck’s Restaurant, the Denny’s where Nvidia began, the Intel Museum, the Computer History Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Tech Museum of Innovation. While other tech-centric spots like Walker’s wagon Wheel, Atari’s headquarters, Lion & Compass, and Circuit City have closed, the new Micro Center and the Apple spaceship offer a renewed sense of place for tech enthusiasts.

The grand opening has been accomplished, with veteran tech journalist and editor-in-chief at Micro center news, Dan Ackerman, providing a tour of the new location. Ackerman was in conversation with iFixit, a tech repair publication with its own podcast space inside the store, highlighting Micro Center’s unique embrace of social media.

The store features a Knowledge Bar, similar to Apple Stores’ Genius Bars, where customers can receive tech support, as well as open repair tables.

Micro Center offers several advantages for tech enthusiasts. Unlike Fry’s,which was known for its sprawling layout and eclectic mix of products,Micro Center focuses specifically on electronics and tech-related items. The Fry’s in Campbell, California, for example, spanned 156,000 square feet and has as been converted into a pickleball complex. Fry’s also inspired the HBO television show “Silicon Valley,” which played on tech industry stereotypes.

Micro Center offers a more streamlined shopping experience.

“Even though this store is big, the CEO (Richard Mershad) is realy into curation, making sure it’s the right mix of stuff.”