Earlier this week, Valley residents placed bids on the final items inside a long-closed Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix. Now that the auction has ended, buyers have to figure out how to remove the larger-than-life pieces.

Most of the items for sale at the former store off Interstate 17 and Thunderbird Road were things shoppers might find at any retailer, like shelving and carts. But this Fry’s had an Aztec temple theme, which means some buyers are walking away with 25-foot fake palm trees and ancient-looking chandeliers.

Architect Wesley James creates immersive hospitality spaces like the ship-style tiki bar, UnderTow. He bought several of the themed items, including a 10-foot-tall snake statue, with a winning bid of $1,400.

“I saw the snake on [the website] and I was like we’ve gotta find a place to put that,” James said. “It’s incredibly heavy.”

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Jason Wade poses with a snake statue up for auction at the former Fry’s Electronics building in Phoenix.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Signs and shelving, fake palm trees, stone chandeliers and a ten foot tall snake statue were among the items up for auction at the former Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix earlier this week.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Jason Wade and Robert Jones look through what’s left of the former Fry’s Electronics store in Phoenix on Aug. 26, 2025 as part of a public preview for an auction of the retailer’s remaining items.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Scottsdale resident, Dennis Alonso used to shop there at Fry’s Electronics with his son. He visited the store one last time on Aug. 26, 2025 as part of a public preview for an auction of the store’s remaining items.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Fry’s Electronics has been closed since 2021, but the last of its decor was auctioned off on Aug. 26, 2025. The auction included this 10-foot-tall snake statue that sold for $1,400.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Signs and shelving, fake palm trees, stone chandeliers and a ten foot tall snake statue were among the items up for auction at the former Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix earlier this week.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Fry’s Electronics has been closed since 2021, but some Valley residents visited the Phoenix store one last time on Aug. 26, 2025 as part of a public preview for an auction of the store’s remaining items.

Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

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Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix has been closed since 2021

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Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix has been closed since 2021

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Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix has been closed since 2021

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Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

Fry’s Electronics in Phoenix has been closed since 2021

James was a big fan of Fry’ Electronics when it was open, but said the statue is about 20% larger than he remembered, so getting it out won’t be easy.

“It’s a challenge,” James said. “There’s no high bay doors over here or anything.”

Luckily, the snake comes apart into two pieces.

“There’s a seam at like the second joint up on the neck,” James said. “It has a loop hook on the top. So we got a forklift here and we’re gonna pull the head off because I can rotate it and then we’re gonna get it all up on wheels and wheel it out to the truck [Friday].”

He also bought three palm trees and eight of the large chandeliers.

“I’ve got a couple clients we’re talking to who may or may not want to integrate pieces into what they’re doing,” James said.

He’s currently building a psychobilly tiki bar in downtown Phoenix and a jungle-themed bar in Tempe. The snake could end up in one of those businesses.

“We could bring several of the components into that one space [in Tempe] as long as it matches their vibe and if it doesn’t, we do this kind of stuff all the time and I know we’ll find a good home for them,” James said.

Ideally, he wants to keep all the pieces together and said he doesn’t plan to modify the snake to fit a space.

The Fry’s Electronics off of Thunderbird and Interstate 17 in Phoenix has been closed since 2021. This week, some Valley residents saw the inside of it one last time, as part of a public preview for an auction of the store’s remaining items.