Fry’s Electronics shutting down all stores, ending 36 years as a big-box stop for tech enthusiasts February 24, 2021 at 8:09 am Fry’s Electronics operated stores across nine states. (BigStock Photo) Fry’s Electronic’s, the big-box chain that was a longtime, one-stop shop for tech enthusiasts, is shutting down after 36 years in business. The company cited “changes in the retail industry and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.” Fry’s made the announcement in a statement on its website early Wednesday, where all other content had disappeared. But the writing had been on the wall for at least two years as empty store shelves began to signal that the San Jose, Calif.,-based company was in trouble.