When I was a kid and living in St. Paul, MN I remember there being several surplus stores with electronic components. One I know closed a long time ago and the other I haven't been to for years, but last time I was there, it was less electronics then when I was a kid. I think being able to go to one of the online superstores and order exactly what we all need has taken a toll on the surplus electronics market. But it sure would be fun to be able to be able to by chace get a good deal on somthing cool, or get the insperation for a project from surplus components.