Twin Cities brick-and-mortar electronics parts retailer?

September 8, 2005 12:01 PM

I'm an electrical engineering student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and I'm looking for a local brick and mortar electronic components retailer.

Anyone I've ever talked to mail orders pretty much everything. Mail ordering is great, especially with 1/2 day turnaround times with Digikey, but I'd love to be able to walk up and down aisles.

posted by adamwolf to Shopping (3 answers total)

Axe Man Surplus in St. Paul and St. Louis Park has lots of bins of electronic stuff, or at least they used to. But they're hardly what you'd call comprehensive.

While you're in there, you could also take a gander at the iron lung; it might even be for sale.
posted by COBRA! at 12:06 PM on September 8, 2005

Engineers where I work have recommended ABC Electronics in Minneapolis (352 7th Avenue North. Phone: [phone]) and Axe Man.
posted by schnee at 1:57 PM on September 8, 2005

FWIW, it's called "Ax-Man Surplus", without the E. There's also a location in Fridley.

Hardly comprehensive, as COBRA! mentioned, but it's certainly an interesting place to browse. Last time I was at the Fridley location, they had an ultrasound machine from the 1980s (with the system software disk still in the 5.25" floppy drive).
posted by neckro23 at 10:40 PM on September 8, 2005