RadioShack is back. Or rather, the electronics store that hit its peak in the 1980s never disappeared altogether.
The niche electronics retailer known for catering to experts and hobbyists disappeared from the American zeitgeist after filing for bankruptcy in 2015. That's why some Wyomingites might be surprised to see RadioShack signs in their communities.
David Nielsen, owner of Nielsen's Furniture and Appliance in Kemmerer, has been an authorized RadioShack reseller for more than 25 years. He still has a RadioShack retail outlet operating out of his business, and it brings people in.
"We have a lot of customers that come in just to see an actual RadioShack," he said. "I wouldn't say it's a significant part of our business, but it brings people in."
Wyoming might seem like the last place where RadioShack would want to stage a comeback, yet that's precisely what it's attempting. For longtime customers, they're still the best in the business.
They Know Me
Kurt Beatty was a regular at the RadioShack franchises in Riverton and Lander for years. For his work as a computer technician, RadioShack has everything he needs.
"I used to go to RadioShack for stereo components in the 1970s and 1980s," he said. "As a lifelong Wyoming resident, they knew me."
RadioShack started as a mail-order business for radio parts in 1921. It transitioned to a brick-and-mortar retail operation in 1962, selling low-cost electronics from small manufacturers to hobbyists and tech professionals.
At its peak in 1999, RadioShack had over 8,000 stores in North America, Europe, and Australia. Aside from a lavish Super Bowl commercial in 2014, RadioShack hasn't had much of a presence in American society. Many people assumed the company was defunct after it declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015.
So how does Beatty keep buying things at RadioShack?
"There's still over 400 RadioShack stores left," he said. "They largely look the same as they did in the 1990s, and they sell RadioShack-themed merchandise."
Tuning In To 2025
In November 2020, the company Retail Ecommerce Ventures acquired all things RadioShack. That included 400 RadioShack independent authorized dealers, including Nielsen's, 80 HobbyTown USA stores, and (what was probably the most valuable asset) all of its intellectual property.
Nielsen is the only certified RadioShack reseller in Wyoming, according to RadioShack's website. Five years after the company's acquisition, Nielsen said he's seen a noticeable effort to revitalize the RadioShack brand by meeting the needs of 21st-century technology.
"They've changed their lineup," he said. "RadioShack used to be all the connectors, gadgets, fuses, and resistors. Things like that. Now, they've changed to future needs. All the new devices and support for them."
That's not to say RadioShack is abandoning its roots, or rather its essential circuitry.
Lander's Circuit Savvy still has a RadioShack sign prominently displayed on its storefront. That's where Beatty goes to pick up everything he needs for his work.
"The company I work for does tech support for the Edward Jones offices, so I have gone in there and bought new networking ends and things like that," he said. "I still rebuild speakers and set-ups to play records, so I go there for stereo wire and connectors."
RadioShack is still RadioShack, and that could be the foundation of its future success.
The inside of Circuit Savvy, a RadioShack retailer, in Lander. RadioShack's retro aesthetic is part of its charm, and the company's new ownership is leveraging the nostaglia as part of the brand identity at the over 400 remaining RadioShack stores. (Courtesy Kurt Beatty)
Back To The Shack
Beatty has observed and chatted with people visiting RadioShack when he drops by to pick up wiring and connectors. The business is busier than many would believe for a retro retailer like RadioShack. ...
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.