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.
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.
"I've seen a 300-pound cowboy in dirty coveralls wanting a new battery for the remote on his truck, and little old ladies looking for batteries for their hearing aids," he said. "I've also seen them help out younger kids with adapters for their memory cards to go from camera to phone to computer."
Beatty believes many Wyomingites trust RadioShack with their electronics more than big-box stores like Walmart. That's the benefit of maintaining and reviving a recognizable brand.
"For a lot of people who have lived in Wyoming their whole lives and aren't tech-savvy, RadioShack is the name they'll recognize," he said. "There's a special importance to places like RadioShack in Wyoming, because that might be the only tech shop people know."
Beyond that, many people seem eager to indulge in the brand's nostalgia. Even when RadioShack was in its doldrums, Nielsen kept the signage up because it brought people into his furniture store.
"I've had a lot of people, especially out-of-town visitors, stop by to see the RadioShack sign," he said. "It's not huge business for us, but it brings people in."
RadioShack tried to make a comeback in Afton, Wyoming, in 2020. (Town of Afton) 
Many people assume RadioShack is another extinct 1980s brand, but retailers in Wyoming are still stocking its products and getting customers. Maybe it's nostalgia or brand recognition, but there's a demand for RadioShack in rural Wyoming, like at Circuit Savvy in Lander. (Circuit Savvy) 
Many people assume RadioShack is another extinct 1980s brand, but retailers in Wyoming are still stocking its products and getting customers. Maybe it's nostalgia or brand recognition, but there's a demand for RadioShack in rural Wyoming, like at Circuit Savvy in Lander. (Circuit Savvy)
Small Town Success
Nielsen said he hasn't communicated much with the new corporate regime overseeing RadioShack. Nevertheless, they seem serious about reviving the retro retailer, and Nielsen is happy to continue working with them.
"They're bringing it back slowly," he said. "When RadioShack came back, they contacted me and asked if I was interested in adding to my distribution, and we jumped back in. They're not up to full inventory yet, but they're still adding to it all the time."
Nielsen believes RadioShack is pursuing a sound strategy for its future, and reestablishing the brand in Wyoming might be putting their best foot forward.
"Everything they're doing is adapted for the present and the future," Nielsen said. "Their products have always been good, and they're bringing back some cool stuff, old and new. They brought back RC toys just a few days ago, and they've always had the best RC cars. If somebody needs a phone charger, computer cable, or batteries, RadioShack has them."
One thing that hasn't changed is the aesthetic. Nielsen noted that's one thing RadioShack hasn't shipped to Kemmerer.
"They haven't done any new signage or required anything like that," he said.
Beatty thinks that's for the best. In an ever-evolving, technologically advanced world, RadioShack's best bet might be to retain and leverage its retro vibes.
"They have newer items and classic items," he said. "You can still go there and buy a clock or radio, their employees are knowledgeable, and it's fun just to go in and look around. RadioShack is still here, and they're hanging on."
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
