New store offers high tech economy in Superior

Joe Gibbs inherited a laptop from a friend of a friend, but didn’t use it much because it was so slow. That changed after the Duluth native brought the machine to Fuad Hijazi.

“It became a usable laptop,” said Gibbs, who now lives in the Twin Cities. “He was able to speed it up.” Now Gibbs uses the machine on the road for business. It’s as fast as, if not faster than, his desktop computer.

“Whatever he did made it work,” Gibbs said.

Hijazi, of Duluth, has turned his skill with machines into a business.

“I love electronics,” he said. And he’s brought his technology know-how to Superior. The Jordan native opened Techno Home Computers less than two weeks ago in the former Brew or Grow space at 1830 Tower Ave. He’s already sold 14 computers and pumped new life into others through repairs, even though he hasn’t put in a business phone yet.

“I sell laptops, build laptops, buy laptops …” Hijazi said, as well as desktop computers and iPhones. He also carries parts for the machines — everything from batteries and screens to hard drives and wifi cards.

His prices, said Luke Johnson of Duluth, are very reasonable.

“I bought a laptop for my son from him,” he said. The $100 machine allows Johnson’s 12-year-old to Skype, check his Facebook page and do research for school. Recently, the boy used the laptop to research a hiking destination for him and his dad, a ruined lighthouse on the end of Park Point. Johnson appreciated the machine’s price and capabilities as well as the fact that Hijazi has offered to help with any problems that crop up with the laptop. He may be a repeat customer in the making.

“I probably will go back,” Johnson said. “My daughter’s birthday is coming up.”

Hijazi, a former graphic designer, previously ran a computer store in Duluth, first on Grand Avenue, and briefly, in the West End. Although he’s been busy with online sales since 2011, Hijazi said he wanted to open a store again. He enjoys the interaction with customers and hopes to make a go of it in Superior. The location is good, he said, and gets a lot of passing traffic.

Computers are an important communication tool in this digital age, Hijazi said, so he aims to keep them affordable. Techno Home Computers offers machines designed for gaming, browsing, education and more.

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Anyone planning to bring a computer in for repair or sale can call ahead of time to (218) 481-4542.

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