It’s business as usual at Friday Harbor Radio Shack

Published 11:44 am Thursday, February 12, 2015

— Journal staff report

The future of appears firmly grounded for the Friday Harbor store that bears the name Radio Shack even though the bankrupt electronics giant is pursuing plans to sell as many as 2,400 of its 4,100 stores to its largest shareholder.

Co-owner Cecil DeMeerleer said it’s business as usual at the Friday Harbor shop despite the 94-year-old corporate retailer’s recent bankruptcy filing.

“Because this is a franchise we own the store and buy stuff from Radio Shack,” DeMeerleer said. “We’re going to continue to be open.”

On Feb. 5, Radio Shack, formerly known as the Tandy Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after 11 consecutive quarterly losses. It earned court approval last week to borrow $10 million to keep operations afloat until bidding opens later this month on its best-performing stores.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Radio Shack owns 4,297 retail outlets in the U.S., of which 1,784 are slated to be shuttered, and 274 in Mexico. Another 900 Radio Shack affiliates, most of which are located in small towns, like Friday Harbor, are independently owned and operated.

DeMeeler said Radio Shack isn’t the only option for supplies to stock the shelves. In the past, for example, if the local store needed something that the headquarters couldn’t provide—he would buy the product elsewhere.

Radio Shack is mostly closing corporate stores nationwide, DeMeeleer said. Franchises are also closing, but not his.

If Radio Shack were to dissolve completely as a business entity, DeMeerleer said he would still operate as an electronics store in Friday Harbor under a new name, and still be able to stock its shelves with the latest gadgets.

The Friday Harbor Radio Shack opened its doors 18 years ago, and continues to be the only store on the island dedicated entirely to electronics.

While the future of Radio Shack as a brand and a distributor to franchise stores is unknown, DeMeerleer is confident his electronics store will remain as a fixture in the community.

“We’re going to be here and do our best to continue to provide the service and knowledge we have for the past 18 years,” he said.