Real Life Games: Cabela's vs Fry's in Phoenix

When you talk about Geeky places there tends to be a stereotypical list of things. The Comic book shops, game stores, and computer warehouses top the list with ease. Fry’s electronics has all of those things, and thus must be a major geek store. When we think of the opposite of those places, another list pops up, and it has just as many stereotypes. The hunting, fishing, redneck store would be high on that list, and thus Cabelas must be the antithesis of Geek.

The problem comes up when actually applied. There are Cabelas, and Fry’s electronics in the same area. It’s true they are not next door neighbors, but if you can drive to one, you can drive to the other. To understand what is going on, I went to a Cabela’s and Fry’s in Phoenix Arizona. To make sure I covered enough, there was an article on each store, and what it felt like. First we will cover the similarities between the two, and how they worked to fit their theme. Then we will go through the differences. We will discuss why someone would go to either store, and then conclude.

The designs of both stores has an eye for detail. They attempt to fit their themes at even the most mundane areas.

There is also a similar way to find things within both stores. If you walked into Cabela’s, you would find a large display, and food area straight ahead of you. Clothes for outdoorsmen can be found right in front, and then a themed split goes down the middle. To the left would be guns, and the cash registers. To the right would be fishing gear.

The only real difference between the two is that the eating area at Fry’s is in the center, while the major display is in the back. Although different items, it follows the same idea. Easier or more generic geek items are found in the center, such as movies, and stereo equipment. Software, videogames, and computer equipment is to the right, while TV’s and electronic gadgets are to the left.

Almost  a panorama.

Although I didn’t think to take pictures of it, Cabela’s has a display for each part of its store. There is a giant fish aquarium right at the front near the rods. The gun section has a gun library to oggle. There is also an archery range, and museums on various animals that can be hunted for. This statement is actually awkward since one of the animals on display is endangered…

And behind the elephant is Puumba.

The displays help you orient yourself, as well see things that will make you want to buy equipment for such hunting.

I love this shot.

The display in the middle is of a mountain region in Northern Arizona.

It is a very pretty display, and makes you want to explore the wilderness.

Yes, only the Wii U worked.

Fry’s major displays are videogames out to be played.

And a theater.

This really was my favorite part of the store.

It’s not easy to see because of the nature of theaters, but everything is displayed in a way that seems feasible and affordable. All the parts needed are there, and for sale to make this theater possible.

In the same way, the displays at Cablela’s were there with all of the items needed to hunt the stuffed animals. Not only that, there were videogames about hunting.

Some people have Power Rangers, others have Duck Dynasty.

In fact, one of the major themes for both stores was adults males thinking about adventure. Whether it was through the theater, through a movie, throught a videogame, or through going into the wilderness there was a theme of adventurer around it. The toys used were following that theme.

The difference in theme is how the adventure needs to take place. Within Fry’s you are constantly working on the cutting edge of technology, and the future. In Cabela’s you are working to find life away from civilization. They are both playgrounds for adults.

A Fry’s electronic store is trying to keep you above society by way of technology. If you need a bunch of wires, Fry’s has them. To escape the hustle and bustle of civilization, you are breaking away from society to be in your house, and play games. The immersion of the theater, and games lets you go to another world, and become someone new.

Cabela’s is about going outdoors, away from society. It is about finding the old ways of survival. I was about to write being one with the land, but the only real way to do that is to get eaten. There are some nice barbecue sauces at Cabela’s so you could theoretically do it. Anyway, the point is that you try to become that character in your mind. The reality is that in either videogame or outdoorsman you become that adventurer in your mind.

Good wizards bring the right amount of thunder. 

Before you start saying that you can’t throw lightning bolts from your hand in real life, remember, guns.

These beauties let you fulfill the fantasy you have. Videogames promote guns, and wildlife folks promote the same idea. In other words, they bring together a fantasy of leaving society and becoming something great.

Both stores tend to be away from the crowded part of the cities. They both promote a fantasy, either by immersion of a movie or game, or by hunting. It takes a great deal of knowledge to do any of these things. If you want to fish, you need to have the right equipment, and know what fish there are. To be immersed in a game, you need the right equipment to make the world disappear. These hobbies can be really expensive or cheap depending on your needs.

The differences we see is how the fantasy is fulfilled. Do you rough it in the wilderness, or make the world disappear? Either way, we have stores designed to help you do these things. They are designed very similarly, and even have places to eat. They are both big enough that you could spend an entire day in them, or even take a date.

Interestingly enough there were more books at the Cabela’s then at the Fry’s. This is even odder when the Fry’s in the Puget Sound area has a large book and magazine section. The stores for both Cabela’s and Fry’s are designed for each area. So, in the opinions of the store owners, Hunters read more.