Beloved Retailer From The '80s To Reopen Years After Chain's Bankruptcy

In recent months, many retailers declared bankruptcy and closed all of their stores, only living on in customers' memories. However, just because a chain has gone under, doesn't mean it is the end of it. In fact, a beloved retailer that was hugely popular in the '80s and '90s and once had over 8,000 stores worldwide before going bankrupt in 2015 and 2017 is coming back.

Shoppers at the Northwoods Mall in Charleston, South Carolina were thrilled to see a RadioShack opening at the shopping center. One mall-goer shared a photo of sign sitting on a kiosk that read, "RadioShack Grand Opening. Everything 50% to 70% off." According to the person who posted the pic, the owner of the kiosk, who used to have a RadioShack franchise, revealed that it is a "test kiosk" and that he is "working to expand into a full store."

RadioShack has been operating only through e-commerce on its website, but in 2023, Unicomer, a consumer finance group based in El Salvador, acquired it. Since then, there have been rumors about the brand coming back in full to brick and mortar stores.

Hopefully things have changed since they declared bankruptcy in February of 2015 and again in 2017. Back then, they cited sales declines, management issues and choosing not to adapt to the e-commerce boom as the reasons for their downfall. After that point, nearly all of the remaining 4,300 stores nationwide have closed, though a couple independently-owned franchises do still exist, and now there is one more in Charleston. No word yet on if others are also planned.