INDIANAPOLIS — Fry's Electronics has announced it is closing its chain of 31 stores for good.
The company said in an online posting that the pandemic had made it impossible to continue.
The chain was founded 36 years ago and had outlets in nine states..
Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData, called it “the end of an era and a sad day” for the company's customers.
Besides the impact the retailer experienced from the pandemic, competition from sellers like Best Buy and Amazon had been a factor in Fry's struggles.
The company said operations have ceased and the wind-down of locations will begin immediately.
The store is asking those with in-store repair items to pick them up.
Would-be customers drove to the Fishers location Tuesday, hoping to find a deal or get one last glimpse.
“I just wanted to come by and walk around and maybe get one more chance to walk around the old place,” said Marc Viquez. “The place had everything you wanted, but unfortunately now a lot of people are getting that on Amazon and the internet."
“We thought we’d show up and see if they had a liquidation sale, but it looks like they are already closed,” said Cori Meade.
While the closing was abrupt, many said it wasn’t entirely a shock.
“I wouldn’t say it’s unexpected," said John Callahan. "The last time I was here, it was pretty much all empty."