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Retro Reference
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Fry's Icon Fremont, CA

Exterior

Opened: 1988

Address: 440 Mission Ct [relocating to the larger location, 43800 Osgood Rd, in April 1999]

Theme: 1893 World's Fair

The Fremont store was themed after the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, which marked a turning point in the widespread adoption of electricity and pitted Nikola Tesla's alternating current (AC) system over Thomas Edison's direct current (DC). Key features included: a statue of Tesla, period-style streetlamps modeled after those used at the Fair, a Tesla coil that discharged 1.5 million volts of electricity at regular intervals (as well as smaller scale Tesla coils throughout the store), and photographs from the Exposition framed in neon tubing.

Statue of inventor Nikola Tesla
Statue of inventor Nikola Tesla
Cafe with streetlamp lighting fixtures
Electric Cafe with period-style streetlamp
Cafe with streetlamp lighting fixtures
Photos of the 1893 World's Fair bordered in neon tubing, powered by the transformer in the center
Cafe with streetlamp lighting fixtures
Smaller scale high voltage displays, including a Jacob's Ladder
Demonstration of 1.5 million volt Tesla Coil