Radio Shack Still Exists! I Visit a Store Still in Business

In this video I take a trip to a Radio Shack in New Holland, PA. For decades Radio Shack was the place to go for various electronics including radios, antennas, cables, and everything in between. What products does Radio Shack currently stock? Does it still look like how many of us remember?

Affiliate Links:

This video is sponsored by Avantek. Check out their wireless doorbell kit at the link below:

Thanks to general manager Ralph Hess and owner Steve Lowen. If you're a HAM their call letters are KC3KMT and N3RSH. Say hi to them!

For an antenna recommendation from me visit my website:

Check out the Antenna Man Store for recommended antennas and accessories:

Support these videos via a PayPal contribution, Patreon, or a Channel Membership:

Sign up to my e-mail list:

Like my Facebook page:

Note: this video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive a small commission.

[AntennaMan]

This video is sponsored by Avantek. Check out their wireless doorbell kit at the affiliate link below:

Thanks to general manager Ralph Hess and owner Steve Lowen. If you're a HAM their call letters are KC3KMT and N3RSH. Say hi to them!

[eminence_front]

I miss Radio Shack. It was always handy for picking up electronic components when I was working on a project. People don't build their own electronics like they once did.

[henryseldon]

What a trip through memory lane. Thanks!

[BenHodgeThemeParkEndeavor]

That store sure does bring back memories, thanks for the video.

[domslivin]

We used to have a Radio Shack in the little shopping center near my house. I would walk down there every time I got money just to buy something electronic and cool. The store owner had a CB radio hooked up in the store and would talk to local CB'ers all the time on it. When I got my first CB radio, I talked to him several times a week...it was a lot of fun. Any kind of adapter or plug I ever needed was a 10 minute walk from my house, and I always felt like a little kid in a candy store every time I went. I miss that store, it was a huge part of my child hood and the reason I'm so into electronics today.

[algorithminc.]

I miss those from the 70's/80's ... and as a kid flipping the catalog for all of the parts I'd buy from some electronics projects. Thanks for the video ...

[billschlafer]

Oh man. I miss Radio Shack too. Back in the 1970s (shortly after the glaciers receded) I used to visit Radio Shack stores every chance I had. Getting their catalog in the mail was like Christmas day, browsing all the cool electronic gear. I wish there was a full blown store like the one in your video within driving distance of where. The ones still around are poorly stocked and are mostly just generic wireless phone stores. I think there is a market out there for the old school Radio Shack stuff that is not being taken advantage of. There's a new generation of makers and electronic project kids out there, as well as a new wave of cord cutters exploring OTA TV that all need reliable gear. And, as you said, actually SEEING those parts in person is a much more satisfying experience than ordering junk online (if you can find it.). Thanks for this post!

[rblevins]

I miss the "able to fix it ourselves" time...they've made it nearly impossible for some things these days.

[josemoreno]

It's like seeing an old friend again. When I was in the USAF back in 1980's. I use to visit a Radio Shack near Norton AFB, CA. ( Closed in 1994 ). I was into scanning and bought four scanners mix base and handheld from them including antennas and frequency guides . Every time the AF sent me somewhere, I'll will take them with me . It was lot of fun and a great hobby. I also bought a lot of electronic things there . I was a telephone lines. They just open one in East Phoenix hear in Arizona. I going to drop by and see them soon. Oh, By the way. I still use those scanners today . I can only hear the airports and the DPS and a few first responders including Luke AFB near by... I going to buy one that I can listen into the trunk systems. Thanks for you great videos. It was like a visiting Candy store to me.

[oswaldjh]

Bought my first multimeter from Radio Shack many decades ago.
From there I bought the components to build a tone generator for troubleshooting audio circuits.
Radio Shack also had electronics text books that taught the basics of the craft.
The learning curve was greatly flattened thanks to this company.

[kathym]

Yesterday I was looking at the RadioShack Weather Alert Radio that I bought in their store about 10 years ago and thinking how I would totally miss that experience today if I wanted that radio. Tyler, you're good!!

[inny]

Congrats! You got shouted out by SomeOrdinaryGamers! 😁

[transmitterguy]

I miss Radio Shack! I have dreams of the old days every night. Going in and buying a pound of rosin core solder for $4.99. 555 timer chips individually packaged, solder iorns, stereo amps, electronic kits to build, TRS 80 computers, The girl behind the counter that didnt know anything about electronics but had big boobs, Forest Mims notebooks, electronic gagets galore, did i say the girl behind the counter had big boobs? I miss those days.

[dennisanderson]

Interesting how a private owner (franchisee?) can keep a store operating and stocked with what people want to buy when the company could not.

[scottwozniak]

This was great. A real trip down memory "aisle".

[commercialelectric]

As a former manager of a Radio Shack (RS) in Channelview and Port Arthur, Texas, I can tell you that we were selling by 1980 Winegard antennas manufactured for RS and RCA. We started selling only anodized antennas. We also started selling only anodized poles tied down with guy wires mounted on multiple sections to reach the proper height...we sold a lot of antennas!
Not to mention commision as SPIFS for amplifiers, cable (RG59 cable company standard) and splitters aside including RG58 for local low-loss and CB. Shielding was not given such importance then (only 75% shielding) including lightning surge arrestors. Grounding used to be so important, ground plains and ground sinks included...

[IamDerick]

I remember the free battery card. When I was getting my start in electronics in the 70's this was the place. My first soldering iron and tools where from RS. It does look exactly as I remember it.

[swedesspeedshop]

I took radio shack for granted growing up they had everything to build electronics from scratch

[yahoosierindiana]

When I was a college kid, I couldn't afford a brand new stereo, but I bought a used one and bought plenty of speaker wire and adapters from my local Radioshack over the years. When I got older I bought a few new radios from there. Now I am looking to make a slight detour on my next vacation trip to visit one of their remaining storeros, maybe pick up another radio. Thanks for your video!

[markquintonii]

My town still has its radio shack and it's still going good.