Micro Center in Austin, TX?

In_Search_of · August 2021

With the demise of Fry's in Austin, the options for the markets that it and Micro Center serves mean that potential customers need to travel to either Dallas or Houston. Even though we measure distances in Texas in terms of hours and not miles, having a Micro Center in the Southwest's version of Silicon Valley would seem a no-brainer. There seems like a great opportunity for expansion to Austin. When is it going to happen?

Ian · August 2021

Greetings,

Thank you for posting on the Micro Center Community! Thank you for providing us a location you think a Micro Center would be great at! I don't really have the pay-grade to make the decision of opening up a location but I can send this to the people that are and see their thoughts and opinions!

Jaceeshine · January 2022

@Ian Hi Ian I’ve thought about this for a long time. About Austin being a GREAT place for a micro center. Who could I contact about being a potential investor/owner/operator if this comes to fruition? Thanks!

In_Search_of · January 2022

If that comes to pass, please let me know. I want to be the first one in the door.

Also, if you were ever in the Fry's here in Austin, it really had some things going for it. They actually had a food court. If they didn't close at night, you could have stayed there for days. I was a real fan of the stores in the DC and Norther NJ areas, so I would really like to see one here. Building on some of the things Fry's had here could make a Micro Center here a paradigm breaker.

By the way that was a great location, too.

SixSpeed · February 2022

Another vote for an Austin Micro Center. I would buy SO MANY parts.

I prefer brick and mortar locations to online shopping, and I'd wander isles, looking for neat gadgets just for fun.

Ian · February 2022

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/40038#Comment_40038

Hello, thanks for your suggestion and sharing your support!

Ahzahail · February 2022

I know it would be a profitable location. Especially since Fry's died. I personally have built 4 pc's there, and would happily go to microcenter instead

Ian · February 2022

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/40392#Comment_40392

Greetings, thanks for sharing your suggestion and support for a possible location there!

minion9119 · March 2022

As other people have said, when Fry's shut down here, it was a really awful turning point for PC builders and really, anyone needing any sort of electronic here. I mean here we are, with all the high tech companies moving here and we've become the technology hub not only for the state but now the country, and we don't even have a PC/electronics store. Don't even think get me started with best buy, it's not even in the same category if you ask me. So we have a huge inflow of high-tech companies and with them, they bring all of their unsurprisingly tech-focused and enthusiast employees, yet have no option other than amazon to buy anything that fry's would've otherwise been able to. I mean, honestly, if microcenter doesn't open a store here, and im honestly surprised they haven't, I might even open something up. I mean, it's a cash cow with noone even trying to milk it. Fry's here actually did quite well here, it was just nationwide, they didn't fare as well. I know there were talks of even keeping this store and a handful of others at some point and it's a shame they couldn't. I can't even begin to tell about all the fond memories I had there and embarrassingly amount of money I spent there as well. Now where do I go? Nowhere... There's nothing that is remotely like it. I've even considered driving to the nearest microcenter on numerous occasions.. but it just doesnt make sense to. I just can't understand why microcenter hates Austin. It Cannot be for business reasons because they would make a killing here.
I would be constant and consistent customer if Micro Center open here and I know hundreds of people that would also be the same way.
so what the hell are they doing up there in the corporate office at Micro Center? Sheesh

Trilla252 · April 2022

Yeah….I was sad when fry’s closed down. The next best thing is Altex on I35, southbound…between braker and rundberg.

slwf · July 2022

OMG YES we need a replacement of Fry's. I spent a ton of money there as a tech worker and long time computer geek. I need to see things in person especially things like computer cases. Its not the same online. Now, my teen son would pump every single cent he owns into Micro Center. He is more of a computer nerd than myself. We almost made a trip to Micro Center in Houston for one of the elusive graphic cards when they were extremely scarce but did not want to deal with the Houston traffic. Traffic and 4 hours away is not something we will do. Austin is a huge tech hub for the entire USA now. Pretty certain bringing this type of store to Austin makes economic sense for MC. There are zero competitors here and a massive untapped customer base. Over 2 million residents. If you add in the San Antonio area you can add in 1.5 million or more and it is relatively close to Austin. Austin was the 2nd largest growth rate in the entire US from 2010 to 2020. Seriously open a Micro Center in Austin now!

slegoace · July 2022

I vote for a location here in Austin, having been in the Hight Tech industry for over 40 years here there is a serious vacuum of computer stores.

Ian · July 2022

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/40934#Comment_40934

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/41545#Comment_41545

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/43369#Comment_43369

https://community.microcenter.com/discussion/comment/43679#Comment_43679

Thanks to all for letting us know we are needed in Austin, TX! Perhaps it will happen one day!

CydXero · February 2023

yes 100% I agree with this..

Enkur · March 2023

Yes we need microcenter in Austin!

Wheels · March 2023

YES, we NEED a Micro center in Central Texas!!!

TxKent · April 2023

I was luckily in Dallas a few weeks ago and stopped and shopped until my feet hurt. I HAVE driven to both Houston and Dallas with MicroCenter as a primary destination. People do throw out Altex as a local option, but they sell mainly to LAN and CATV installers and close around 5 pm daily. We need a nerd destination and we need it in 2023.