Fry’s Electronics closed on February 24, 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States chain of stores was known for selling electronics like computers, video games, TVs, and appliances. It also covered other areas, selling things like toys and books, and some locations also included small cafes. People could purchase items from the retailer both in physical locations and online.
When Fry’s Electronics closed, it did so without fanfare. Rumors first started circling on February 23, 2021, with tweets from people like Bill Reynolds bringing up the closure. The next day, the official website offered a notice explaining the decision and offering contact addresses and numbers for people with items being repaired and vendors.
Here’s the official statement:
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.
There were 31 Fry’s Electronics stores in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington when it closed. It had been open since 1985.
