Electronics restore store increasing to Fredericksburg, launching gaming PCs arm

Computer Cave co-owners Shane Lacks, left, and Andy Kimberlin. (BizSense file)

An area laptop restore store is booting up one other out-of-town growth.

Shockoe Bottom-based Computer Cave just lately inked a lease for a store on the Central Park buying heart in Fredericksburg.

The upcoming location, at 1255 Carl D Silver Parkway, follows Computer Cave’s growth into Charlottesville final yr.

The firm is making its push into Fredericksburg to capitalize on what it considers a dearth of electronics restore retailers within the space and to function a brand new node in a regional retail footprint, co-owner Shane Lacks stated.

“What we’re shooting for is basically creating a triangle around central Virginia to have convenient locations for the different markets,” he stated. “Fredericksburg is definitely an underserved market. They need more computer, phone, game-console repair companies out there.”

Computer Cave is planning to open the brand new store in late September. Lacks stated the corporate will workers up the shop shortly, with two full-time staff at first, after which as much as 4 extra folks inside six months.

“That way we can have a fully staffed store that’s going to be able to knock repairs out quickly for our customers. When somebody needs their (device) repaired, they need it yesterday, not tomorrow,” he stated.

The new store comes as the corporate plans to launch a brand new division referred to as Computer Cave Gaming, which can be devoted to constructing and promoting computer systems optimized for taking part in video video games.

Building customized gaming rigs is common amongst online game lovers, and the concept is that the corporate would provide the same however simplified course of by ordering motherboards, graphics playing cards and different elements used to assemble the computer systems to be bought, co-owner Andy Kimberlin stated.

“We go ahead and we take care of part selections. We assemble those. We configure them after we install the operating systems, and that way you get a fully ready-to-go, out-of-the-box turnkey gaming desktop,” Kimberlin stated.

Computer Cave is launching a brand new division of the corporate that can be devoted to constructing gaming computer systems. (Courtesy Computer Cave)

While Computer Cave already sells prebuilt and customised gaming setups as a part of its enterprise, the brand new division would up the ante by establishing a proper new division that might finally have devoted workers and warehouse house. In doing so, present staff can give attention to restore jobs, Kimberlin stated.

“What we’re doing is we’re taking the load off of our existing teams in the brick-and-mortar stores to free them up so that they’ve got better availability to complete those repairs,” he stated.

The firm is on the hunt for a warehouse house beneath 5,000 sq. ft to assist the brand new service, which is ready to launch subsequent month. Lacks and Kimberlin stated they hope to lock down an area earlier than the top of the yr.

They stated Computer Cave sees its rising brick-and-mortar presence as key to the brand new emphasis on prebuilt gaming setups. The shops act as showrooms and restore areas that enable clients to keep away from the effort of transport computer systems for repairs, which will be expensive and lead to injury to the machine.

“You may have to pay the shipping costs yourself, which on a 4-foot-by-4-foot box that weighs 50 pounds can be very expensive,” Kimberlin stated. “There’s a lot of risk in making sure that once the prebuilder makes the device, it gets to your door in a safe condition. But when you’re adding another trip and back, it gets even more complicated.”

Computer Cave Gaming is anticipating to launch with three laptop fashions beginning at $1,299. The firm plans to supply 5 – 6 fashions in time for the vacations. Kimberlin likened the brand new division to a automotive dealership, the place clients should buy vehicles on the lot, or order a personalized car.

The enterprise is increasing because it additionally navigates the Trump administration’s push to impose tariffs, which have been a priority for the international producers of the elements utilized by Computer Cave.

“They’re actually limiting what is coming into the U.S. as of right now, due to the uncertainty about tariffs. So it’s definitely causing a pipeline disruption for us,” Lacks stated.

Kimberlin stated producers are taking various approaches to the shift in U.S. commerce coverage. Accordingly, he and Lacks have sought to broaden Computer Cave’s community of suppliers to permit it flexibility in offsetting the consequences of tariffs.

“Certain companies put on a freeze and said anything that was earmarked for the United States is going to Canada or Mexico. Other manufacturers are trying to absorb some of the tariff costs, so there’s only a small price increase that we have to pass on,” Kimberlin stated. “We’ve had to basically be in communication with as many manufacturers as we can to try to purchase from different sources with business models that allow for us to have enough product.”

Computer Cave opened its Richmond store, at 11 S. fifteenth St., in 2019 after relocating from Ashland, the place it launched a pair years prior. The Charlottesville location opened in June 2024. Kimberlin and Lacks stated they anticipate opening extra shops within the markets the place Computer Cave has planted its flag.

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