Tech District · VIDEO ESSAY

The Rise and Fall of CompUSA, the Dallas Computer Superstore Where America Bought Its First PC

CompUSA was once one of America’s biggest destinations for computers, software, upgrades, and the emerging world of personal technology. From its Dallas roots to hundreds of superstores across the country, it became the place where millions of Americans explored and bought their first PCs. But rapid expansion, fierce competition, changing consumer habits, and the rise of online shopping eventually brought the computer retail giant crashing down. This is the rise and fall of CompUSA—and the story of how a computer superstore helped introduce America to the PC revolution before becoming a casualty of the industry it helped build.