Fry's Electronics Has Gone Out of Business and All Their Stores Have Been Closed
I have a lot of fond memories of going to Fry’s Electronics. I still remember when they opened up a store in Burbank, CA. I remember going for the first time and seeing a giant UFO sticking out of the front of the building like it had just crashed into it.
The whole store is themed after classic 1950s sci-fi movies, and it was filled with aliens, robots, the military being attacked. They even had a drive-in theater-style cafe. It was awesome! It’s a place I also enjoyed taking my own kids to go shopping for electronic stuff, DVDs, and, of course, candy.
Well, Fry’s Electronics has officially gone out of business, and all 31 of their stores have been closed. The last year has been especially rough on retail stores due to the pandemic. It sucks that Fry’s Electronics is one of the casualties. I was just there last week!
Fry’s shared the news on their website with the following message:
After nearly 36 years in business as the one-stop-shop and online resource for high-tech professionals across nine states and 31 stores, Fry’s Electronics, Inc. (“Fry’s” or “Company”), 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. The Company will implement the shut down through an orderly wind down process that it believes will be in the best interests of the Company, its creditors, and other stakeholders.
The Company ceased regular operations and began the wind-down process on February 24, 2021. It is hoped that undertaking the wind-down through this orderly process will reduce costs, avoid additional liabilities, minimize the impact on our customers, vendors, landlords and associates, and maximize the value of the Company’s assets for its creditors and other stakeholders.
The Company is in the process of reaching out to its customers with repairs and consignment vendors to help them understand what this will mean for them and the proposed next steps.
If you have questions, please contact us using the following email addresses:
For customers who have equipment currently being repaired, please email customerservice@frys.com, to arrange for return of your equipment.
For customers with items needing repair under a Performance Service Contract, please call (800) 811-1745.
For consignment vendors needing to pick up their consignment inventory at Fry’s locations, please email omnichannel@frys.com.
Please understand if we are a bit slow to respond given the large volume of questions. The Company appreciates your patience and support through this process.
Sincerely,
Fry’s Electronics
What are your thoughts on Fry’s closing down?