Radio Shack - Various MI

Address: Various
City: Various
State: MI
Zip: Various
County: Various
Number of visits to this page: 2634
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Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

Personal recollections: I used to frequent Radio Shack for most of my electronic needs. They were one of a few stores who carried electronic components for hobbyists, musicians, computer users, etc. I was in several rock bands when I was young so we would go there for cables and such. My first personal computer was a Tandy 1000 and at work I was using a Radio Shack TRS 80 (nickname "Trash 80"). They were pretty leading edge back in the 70's and 80's.

Eventually I noticed they were targeting a more mass consumer market as opposed to hobbyists and their prices were going way up. Most were buying the items they carried on the Internet at far lower prices (and better selection) so their fate was sealed. Most of the material I am posting here was gleaned from historical high school yearbooks from the 60's thru the 80's. The chain advertised heavily to this demographic. It's fairly hard to find photos of intact Radio Shack stores so I put up what I had. I do have a soft spot for these joints as they were part of my misspent youth.

From Twice.com (Alan Wolf)

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – RadioShack’s humble beginnings as a small, 1920s Boston ham radio shop and mail-order business belie its later role as an American retail icon with 7,000 stores and a bevy of innovations under its belt, most notably the clunky TRS-80, acclaimed as the first mass-marketed, fully assembled personal computer.

Along the way it served as a cultural touchstone as consumers migrated from CB radios and eight-track tape decks to mobile phones and satellite dishes, all the while providing personalized, local service and arcane accessories on a mass scale – a business model that would prove unsustainable in a low-margin digital world.

RadioShack arguably reached its zenith under CEO Len Roberts, who presaged Best Buy’s branded store-within-a-store strategy by more than a decade, but also sowed the seeds of its cellular Achilles heel.

In the ensuing years the company began a long, painful descent, as tracked by TWICE’s Top 100 CE Retailers reports. Hardware sales fell 31 percent between 2004 and 2013 as the chain shuttered 42 percent of its store base, and its standing in our rankings dropped from fifth to eighth place.

What the reports don’t reflect was the rising rush of red ink, which prompted a merry-go-round of chief executives, draconian budget cuts and an even tighter grip on its cellular lifeline.

By the time final CEO Joe Magnacca took the reins in 2013, the dye had already been set and there was neither enough time nor money for his ambitious turnaround plans to gain traction. Instead, RadioShack filed for bankruptcy protection in the hopes of living on as a sub-brand of Sprint in 2,000 of its best and last remaining stores.

A RadioShack Timeline

1919: Two friends start the Hinckley-Tandy Leather Company in Fort Worth, Texas, supplying leather shoe parts and supplies to repair shops.

1921: Two brothers open the first “Radio Shack” in Boston. The small retail and mail-order business supplied ship radio equipment and “ham” radios, and was named for the small wooden structure onboard ships that housed the radio equipment.

1947: Radio Shack opens the first audio showroom to feature speakers, amplifiers, turntables and phonograph cartridges. Also that year, Charles D. Tandy joins the family business and would soon begin to chart a new direction for the company’s expansion.

1963: Tandy acquires Radio Shack

1972: Sells its first all-electronic calculator.

1977: Radio Shack introduces the first mass-marketed, fully assembled personal computer, the TRS-80, with an operating system built by Bill Gates.

1981: John Roach named CEO.

1984: Radio Shack sells its first mobile phone.

1985: Begins selling satellite TV systems and service.

1992: Launches Incredible Universe, its doomed big-box chain.

1999: Fast-food veteran Len Roberts named CEO; develops cellular, Internet and satellite subscription services and branded in-store shops.

2000: Tandy changes its name to RadioShack, drops private-label Realistic and Optimus brands

2004: Launches in-store wireless kiosk service for big-box retailers.

2006: Roberts’ successor David Edmondson resigns for misstating college background. Replaced by longtime McDonald’s exec Claire Babrowski, who in turn is succeeded by Kmart veteran Julian Day, a turnaround specialist known for aggressive cost-cutting.

2011: Verizon rejoins RadioShack’s wireless ranks, adding to its over-reliance on cellular. Day retires, succeeded by president/chief financial officer Jim Gooch.

2012: Gooch resigns amid mounting losses, succeeded by chief financial officer Dorvin Lively as acting CEO.

2013: Walgreens exec Joe Magnacca named CEO; develops turnaround plan that includes new store design, re-merchandised assortment and fresh marketing.

2014: Chain mounts a notable comeback campaign during Super Bowl XLVIII that pokes fun at its stodgy image, but sales remain soft and losses widen. Repeated requests by Magnacca to close 1,100 underperforming stores are nixed by term lender Salus.

2015: Company receives second default notice from Salus following poor holiday season; trading suspended on New York Stock Exchange; files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Info Updates:
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 Photos:62
Radio Shack - Niles Store Then
Niles Store Then
Radio Shack - The Trash 80
The Trash 80
Radio Shack - Niles Store Now
Niles Store Now
Radio Shack - Durand Store
Durand Store
Radio Shack - Niles Store 3
Niles Store 3
Radio Shack - Another Trash 80
Another Trash 80
Radio Shack - Random Other Stores For The Hell Of It
Random Other Stores For The Hell Of It
Radio Shack - Gladwin Store 1976
Gladwin Store 1976
Radio Shack - Gladwin Store
Gladwin Store
Radio Shack - Alma Store
Alma Store
Radio Shack - Bad Axe Store 1980
Bad Axe Store 1980
Radio Shack - Brooklyn Store
Brooklyn Store
Radio Shack - Deckerville Store
Deckerville Store
Radio Shack - Dowagiac Store
Dowagiac Store
Radio Shack - Durand Store
Durand Store
Radio Shack - Ferndale Store
Ferndale Store
Radio Shack - Gladwin Store 3
Gladwin Store 3
Radio Shack - Grant Store 2
Grant Store 2
Radio Shack - Grant Store
Grant Store
Radio Shack - Greenville Store
Greenville Store
Radio Shack - Harrison Store 1991
Harrison Store 1991
Radio Shack - Harrison Store 6
Harrison Store 6
Radio Shack - Harrison Store
Harrison Store
Radio Shack - Hastings Store 3
Hastings Store 3
Radio Shack - Hastings Store 4
Hastings Store 4
Radio Shack - Hastings Store
Hastings Store
Radio Shack - Houghton Lake 1980
Houghton Lake 1980
Radio Shack - Jackson Store
Jackson Store
Radio Shack - Jonesville Store 4
Jonesville Store 4
Radio Shack - Jonesville Store
Jonesville Store
Radio Shack - Lansing Store
Lansing Store
Radio Shack - Livonia Store
Livonia Store
Radio Shack - Midland Store 1976
Midland Store 1976
Radio Shack - Midland Store 3
Midland Store 3
Radio Shack - Midland Store 5
Midland Store 5
Radio Shack - Midland Store 6
Midland Store 6
Radio Shack - Midland Store 7
Midland Store 7
Radio Shack - Midland Store 8
Midland Store 8
Radio Shack - Midland Store 9
Midland Store 9
Radio Shack - Midland Store Again
Midland Store Again
Radio Shack - Niles Store 3
Niles Store 3
Radio Shack - Niles Store 4
Niles Store 4
Radio Shack - Owosso Store 4
Owosso Store 4
Radio Shack - Owosso Store
Owosso Store
Radio Shack - Paw Paw Store
Paw Paw Store
Radio Shack - Rogers City Store 4
Rogers City Store 4
Radio Shack - Rogers City Store 5
Rogers City Store 5
Radio Shack - Rogers City Store
Rogers City Store
Radio Shack - Sandusky Store
Sandusky Store
Radio Shack - Sault Ste Marie Store 3
Sault Ste Marie Store 3
Radio Shack - Sault Ste Marie Store
Sault Ste Marie Store
Radio Shack - Shelby Store
Shelby Store
Radio Shack - South Haven Store 2
South Haven Store 2
Radio Shack - South Haven Store
South Haven Store
Radio Shack - St John Store
St John Store
Radio Shack - St Joseph Store
St Joseph Store
Radio Shack - Sturgis Store
Sturgis Store
Radio Shack - Ubly Store 1982
Ubly Store 1982
Radio Shack - Vassar Store 2
Vassar Store 2
Radio Shack - Vassar Store
Vassar Store
Radio Shack - Whitehall Store
Whitehall Store
Radio Shack - Classmates - Find Your School, Yearbooks And Alumni Online(231)
Classmates - Find Your School, Yearbooks And Alumni Online(231)
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