Fry’s Electronics abruptly shuttered all of its stores on Wednesday, affecting 31 sites in nine states.
The San Jose-based electronics retailer, known for its cavernous space and whimsical decor, had Valley locations in Burbank and Woodland Hills. Eight sites dotted the SoCal region. Callers to the two Valley sites were greeted with automated answers saying the stores were closed.
Fry’s website said the company made the hard decision to close shop as a changing retail industry and challenges posed by the pandemic packed a one-two punch.
The chain was born in the 1980s electronics boom and served tech enthusiasts for 36 years. Online competition along with competitors such as Amazon and Best Buy marked the beginning of the end for Fry’s, according to various reports.
Fry s Electronics Suddenly Goes Out of Business and Closes All Stores
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2020 was a rough year for retailers, and 2021 hasn t been easy either. The coronavirus pandemic continues to have a significant impact on retailers across the country, and last night we learned that Fry s Electronics, a longtime electronics staple, is shutting down all 31 of its stores and ceasing operation. The news came in the middle of the night last night from a store employee (via Bill Reynolds), who revealed that all of Fry s locations were closing as of that night. A statement was expected early this morning, and now Fry s has updated their website with the following message, confirming that they are closing all of their locations permanently. You can read their full statement below.
Fry’s Electronics Closing All Stores: Customers Mourn Loss. ‘RIP’
Fry’s Electronics is closing all of its stores after almost 36 years in business.
The tech retailer announced the decision on Wednesday, posting a notice to its customers on its website after removing the ability to purchase merchandise from the site.
The announcement from the company read, in part, “Fry’s Electronics, Inc. has made the difficult decision to shut down its operations and close its business permanently as a result of changes in the retail industry and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Fry’s Electronics had 31 theme-based stores that were located in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, KRON 4 reported. Themes ranged from Aztec to underwater Neptune motifs.