The Observation Deck

It came to my attention yesterday, that Radio Shack employees had been told to start
packing up the store and get it ready to close.


Nearly in the same location since the 60s. As Olsen Electronics, Heath Kit, then Radio Shack.


Shot through the window last night you can see the empty shelves in the back left.

So much for Lakewood Technology Corridor.

1,132 jobs lost this week.

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Radio Shack has a lot of problems. Their creditors are only allowing them to close 200 stores per year, and the NYSE is talking about delisting them. They are expected to declare bankruptcy as early as February.
I remember, through the 70's, they were located near the late, lamented, Maria's Roman Room, by Lakewood International News, and the old Malley's factory.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Jim, but the closest Olson Radio that I remember was in RR, at Center Ridge near River Oaks. Heathkit, of course, was at Brookpark and Pearl.

Michael Loje wrote:Radio Shack has a lot of problems. Their creditors are only allowing them to close 200 stores per year, and the NYSE is talking about delisting them. They are expected to declare bankruptcy as early as February.
I remember, through the 70's, they were located near the late, lamented, Maria's Roman Room, by Lakewood International News, and the old Malley's factory.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Jim, but the closest Olson Radio that I remember was in RR, at Center Ridge near River Oaks. Heathkit, of course, was at Brookpark and Pearl.

Mike

As I remember it from 50s or 60s???? What I remember of what became Hoty Plaza?

From the east side of the building, Western Auto Store, another store, than Olsen
Electronics, his first store. (Olsen was a Rocky River resident, first large electronic chain I
knew of. He moved to Uncle Bills, Giant Eagle plaza in Rocky River, when they went
national. Meanwhile Heathkit came in.

For various reasons Olsen soon sold out to Heath Kit, and then Radio Shack was bought out
by Tandy, Heath Kit's parent corporation. For awhile I think we had 2 or 3 of them.

But I could be wrong.

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Mike-- Olsen's was at the River Oaks location. Just imagine the ecstasy--- Olsen's and Uncle Bills in one stop!
I think Radio Shack is just reflective of the times. I used to go there every few months for all the gidgets and whatchmacallits that I needed for all these new fangled computers.
I really haven't gone there in years. Multiply me by thousands of former customers and you have the tale.
Stan

Stan Austin wrote:Mike-- Olsen's was at the River Oaks location. Just imagine the ecstasy--- Olsen's and Uncle Bills in one stop!
I think Radio Shack is just reflective of the times. I used to go there every few months for all the gidgets and whatchmacallits that I needed for all these new fangled computers.
I really haven't gone there in years. Multiply me by thousands of former customers and you have the tale.
Stan

Stan

That was the Chain at River Oaks.

What is terrible is they still had all of the things you need. Strange batteries, cords for any phone, their i phone and Apple selection was damn near as good as Best Buy for cords and such.

Stan, you could be the Glen Palmer of Detroit and open Lakewood Electronic Gizmos to be like
an electronic Lakewood Hardware!

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Jim, Olson was an Akron operation, and their first stores were there. Their first store in the area was somewhere around 1900 Euclid, a couple doors down from Lafayette Radio. They ultimately were bought by Teledyne Corp., under whose ownership they sank. Heathkit was strictly a catalog operation until the late 60's, when they opened stores. The only Cleveland store was at Pearl and Brookpark, not that far from Winteradio on Ridge Road. Early in the PC era, Zenith Radio bought Heathkit, their stores were closed, and Heath ceased to exist. About 1970, Radio Shack's parent, Tandy Leather, bought Allied Radio, who had a few stores in the area. (Tandy bought Radio Shack in the early 50's.)
Now, Stan, who was the hifi store here? Was that Music Unlimited? I remember it being in the Marc's Plaza area, pre Mark's Plaza, and then they moved to Warren Village. Guys, fill in the blanks for me.

Michael Loje wrote:Jim, Olson was an Akron operation, and their first stores were there. Their first store in the area was somewhere around 1900 Euclid, a couple doors down from Lafayette Radio. They ultimately were bought by Teledyne Corp., under whose ownership they sank. Heathkit was strictly a catalog operation until the late 60's, when they opened stores. The only Cleveland store was at Pearl and Brookpark, not that far from Winteradio on Ridge Road. Early in the PC era, Zenith Radio bought Heathkit, their stores were closed, and Heath ceased to exist. About 1970, Radio Shack's parent, Tandy Leather, bought Allied Radio, who had a few stores in the area. (Tandy bought Radio Shack in the early 50's.)
Now, Stan, who was the hifi store here? Was that Music Unlimited? I remember it being in the Marc's Plaza area, pre Mark's Plaza, and then they moved to Warren Village. Guys, fill in the blanks for me.

Michael

Family lived in Rocky River, first person I ever knew to get locked up for drugs was the son, down
in Colombia if I remember the story correctly. Father paid bond, and flew him out same night.
Shortly after that the name disappeared on signs. Not sure if there was any connection.

I vividly remember looking at Heath Kit color TV kits, with a built in clock. Which I think was the
actual first color TV though you had to build it. And remember when Radio Shack opened there.

But 50 years ago, what the hey.

Mike--- Music Unlimited was in a block of stores that is now the Huntington Bank and the coffee shop. Their featured brands were Magnavox and Sony. I bought several Sony TVs from them when Sony was the premier brand. One of the co owners, Steve Bacho, was my main guru then. Back then right out of college many of my friends were getting married. If I was part of the wedding party I would make gift giving easy and collect $50 from each of the grooms, go to Music Unlimited and buy the top of the line TV and give it to the newlyweds because that was a significant purchase for a couple just starting out at that time.
Stan

Stan, thats a great gift idea! I remember Music Unlimited being a good store, and had a lot of unusual brands. For instance, the only place I ever saw a Viking tape recorder was there. Do you remember if they ultimately relocated to Warren Village?

Mike-- I don't think they ever relocated. Steve Bacho went to work for Lakewood Hospital to help develop the then fledgling IT systems.