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 at 6100 N. Canoga Ave. in Woodland Hills, like many others, sported a larger-than-life theme. The store had large statues of characters from Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," including those of the White Rabbit and Queen of Hearts.That store was headed to the scrap heap anyway to make way for new development. Multifamily developer Kaplan Management Co. applied for a mixed-use project at the 8.8-acre site in September, requesting to build 880 residential units and a hotel. The project, if approved, stands to benefit from the $1.5 billion mixed-use project Promenade 2035 at the Warner Center, headed by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
Fry’s Abruptly Closes All Stores
