Comments on: What happened to Fry’s Electronics

By: The Randman

The Randman — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:09:00 +0000

In reply to Dave Farquhar. When I worked at AMD in Sunnyvale, we could walk to a Fry's. Indeed, we used it often when in need of some random cable, component or tool. We did refer to it as the "store we love to hate". Convenient obviously but customer service was almost non-existent. Having tons of CD's, coffee makers and kitchen appliances used to crack us up.

By: James

James — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 04:13:13 +0000

I remember the excitement back when a Fry’s was coming to Renton on property that I think has been part of Boeing. The store didn’t have an elaborate theme as I later learned many of the other locations had but it was still pretty cool. I bought several hard drives there, network cable, electronic components and I still have the home theater system I bought there nearly 20 years ago. They gradually degraded though having less and less inventory, I suppose around the time Amazon really started taking off. I think the last time I stopped there was well over 10 years ago and then at some point they closed. End of an era.

By: Some dude

Some dude — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:35:16 +0000

The Fry’s in Phoenix was huge, like mall like huge, and had a weird Aztec like themed exterior.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 04:22:03 +0000

In the early days in Silicon Valley, Fry’s had one thing more beyond nerdy electronics. It had the largest collection of makeup I have ever seen. Rows and rows of the stuff. Being a nerd myself and desperate to meet pretty girls, I understood the strategy.

By: Dave Farquhar

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 15:46:24 +0000

In reply to neo. I know there was one in Downers Grove. I drove past it when I took my CISSP exam in the Chicago area in 2012. I wanted to stop badly but was in no-distraction mode the day before the test, and after the test, I was in no shape to do anything but drive home, and I was questionable for that.

By: Mocha

Mocha — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 08:56:39 +0000

I remember all these things you mentioned. The salesmen acted exactly the way you describe at the Fremont location. I’ll never forget one time a saleswoman helped me and then some salesman just walks up near the end and says he was going to take over! I also used to enjoy the Concord location. It was funny to go in there and all the shelves were empty and a few random people wandering around. And if you asked any employee where all the products are they always had some quick answer to blame something that didn’t quite make sense. I also remember near the end they started selling lots of junky gadgets near the front of the stores. The focus started moving away from the roots products.

By: neo

neo — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:42:17 +0000

there was Fry’s Electronics in Lincoln wood il in the 90s

also near by Comp USA, and Elek Tek