[Boatanchors] Another Parts Store Closes...

[William]

Hello All,

I have to 'let it all out'.  Call the following a rant, excess whining, loads of lamentations, or whatever.

Last week I had a 'Dad's Day Out' with my father to have breakfast and stop by an electronics shop in Minneapolis.  The store was ABC Electronics (http://www.yelp.com/biz/abc-electronics-minneapolis) and I had not been there for a few years.  I figured my dad and I could poke around for a while.

After a great breakfast at Louisiana Cafe (http://newlouisianacafe.com/) where heart attacks are served on large plates, we zipped over to Minneapolis only to find out that ABC was closed for inventory.

Well, actually closed for more than inventory purposes.  After the initial disappointment of seeing the sign stating they were closed - which of course was after we paid for parking - we poked our heads in the door and spoke to the manager.  He mentioned the place is closing its doors and everything was already bought out by another firm.

On the plus side:  The company that purchased the entire lot was Ax Man Surplus (http://www.ax-man.com/).  A fun store with lots of odds and ends.

On the down side:  There is no way all of the stuff from ABC will be able to be set out on the shelves at Ax Man for all to see as their stores are already quite crowded.  Thus I fear the ABC inventory will be stuck in a warehouse and parcelled out over the coming years.

So the past few years have seen the following:
*  ABC Electronics closed.  

*  Radio repair shop on Prior Avenue in St. Paul closed.  This place was run by Paul March, a true gentleman, who has retired.  His shop was only open a couple hours during the week and a few hours on Saturday mornings, but it was filled to the gills with all sorts of cool stuff.

*  Marty's Second Hand Store on University Ave in St. Paul closed (RIP, Marty).  This was a true junk store that would have a true treasure every so often.  Marty was a crusty old soul with a heart of gold.  (http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27612233/st-paul-martys-second-hand-store-close-its)

*  This year's HAM swap meet normally held in the 3M parking lot was cancelled at the last minute and now needs to find a new location for next year (http://www.skywarn.ampr.org/tailgate.html).

I did receive a recommendation to check out Leeds Radio in Brooklyn from one of the Boatanchor folks a couple years back.  I was able to visit the place (heaven on earth), but I now see he has moved shop to the Bronx.  Not sure when I will be able to make it over there from Minnesota.

Kutztown is too far away, too.

I recognize things change, people pass, and capitalist economics does not always suit the small-time hobbyist.  My hope is that I will still have access to parts and suggestions on how to use them... and for that, I will thank the Boatanchor community in advance.

Thanks for reading.  

Best Regards,

William