Up until a couple years ago, the two near me had full sections dedicated to discrete components, arduinos, etc. The old school Radio Shacks had all that stuff for decades until the internet killed them. Now its just a retail junk store.

> They seemed amazed that I would actually design my own circuits

Well, you're dealing with people with retail jobs. They probably aren't meeting a lot of engineers or makers. They spend their days arguing with housewives and children over cell phone contracts and fees.