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The once-iconic Fry’s Electronics building in Serra Mesa is being torn down, marking the end of a beloved era for tech enthusiasts while making room for San Diego’s growing need for housing. A demolition crew has gutted much of the structure, transforming the former tech haven into a construction site for a 310-unit apartment complex.
A Changing Cityscape
The demolition reflects a familiar narrative in San Diego: dwindling commercial spaces giving way to desperately needed housing. “We do this story 12 times a week,” noted Baird. “There’s not enough housing and there’s not enough places to live.”
The property owners applied for a permit to build the apartment complex, but as of now, no timeline for construction has been shared. Attempts to contact the developers during the holidays were unsuccessful.
A Tech Icon’s Legacy
For decades, Fry’s Electronics was a haven for tech geeks and electronics aficionados. Opening its doors in the 1990s, the Serra Mesa location initially debuted as Incredible Universe, a massive retail space that drew crowds with its futuristic design and unparalleled selection.
“It was like a big deal in San Diego,” Baird recalled. “You remember where you were when Horton Plaza opened and where this was when it opened.”
Fry’s, however, became another casualty of shifting consumer habits and the COVID-19 pandemic, closing all locations in February 2021. For those who frequented the store, its closure was a symbolic end to an era of brick-and-mortar retail dominance.
Moving Forward
Shortly after Fry’s shut its doors, the parking lot was fenced off, and the building stood vacant for nearly three years. Now, its demolition signals progress in addressing San Diego’s housing crisis, even as it stirs nostalgia among longtime residents. The 310-unit apartment complex will undoubtedly bring a modern feel to Serra Mesa, but for many San Diegans, the site will always hold memories of browsing aisles packed with tech gadgets and dreaming of the possibilities.
