What’s this? A ghost sign from an old Radio Shack, a firm that closed down in Canada over a dozen years ago, this one being exposed during renovations at Calgary’s Westbrook Mall. We’re looking at a time capsule here, a reminder taking us back to when the “Shack” was the defacto go-to outlet when one needed consumer electronics. Want a tv, record player, tape deck, computer, CB radio (big in the 70s), parts, batteries of all types or whatever? That’s where you went. They seemingly had everything. And the place was always busy.
Radio Shack stores came to Canada, it appears in the late 1960s, being known in the beginning as Allied Radio Shack. Owned by Tandy Corporation (Tandy Leather then), they were mirror images of US stores. It’s not exactly clear when the Westbrook Mall store was opened but this author remembers shopping at it in the latter half of the 1970s. Bought many bits there, dreamt of buying much more. For a techie wanna-be, it was a toy store of huge proportions. Had one of those 150 in one (or some number) electronic lab kits. One second it was a radio, another a disco strobe light. Oh, and the “battery of the month” club! Yes, recall that?
Times changed, new players came on the market and the stores fell out of favour with consumers, the chain sort of loosing its way in the process. In the mid-2000s, it closed up shop in Canada (but not US) all the stores being rebranded as The Source by Circuit City, similar in scope but with more emphasis on things like cell phones. While that firm still operates in Canada, this particular store didn’t make it and closed down a few months back.
Westbrook is Calgary’s oldest enclosed mall and is mere blocks from BIGDoer HQ. It’s the city’s premiere shopping destination. Or not. Most days now it’s dead. In the 1970s, I recall it being crazy busy. Hadn’t thought of the place until the sign was exposed. Fond memories rushed back…it was nice to know you. So long Radio Shack.
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Date of adventure: May, 2016. Location: Calgary, AB.
Worked on a TRS-80 model III at one time. Predated the 1000/2000 series. No arguments here about them focusing too much in cell phones. Westbrook already has too many of those places already.
I miss Radio Shack so much. It was a great place to go get those electronics parts you needed… or batteries. SO MANY BATTERIES.
When they became The Source, they went all USB-gadgety and now resemble those kiosks in the middle of malls that hawk cheap helicopters, cell phones and cases. Bleah.
Yes, the batteries. Every type, shape, form, use. Back then they were the only place to get the odd ones or large quantities of those that were common. Agreed, the Source morphed into something of a joke. Nothing like the old Shack.
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Beer Parlour Fridays: before Pilsner in Saskatchewan, there was Bohemian or simply Boh. For decades, it was the most popular beer in the province. Incidentally, both Pil and Boh were for decades products of Sick's Brewery. This Boh cap was found in the basement of an old hotel in SW Saskatchewan during a visit by the Beer Parlour Project. It celebrates the beer winning a prestigious best in world award in the late 1960s.
Beer Parlour Fridays: here's a standard issue cast-metal round-top Beer Parlour table. These were supplied through the liquor control board (who heavily regulated the business) and therefore could be found at most drinking establishments. They date back to the 1940s-1960s period and surprisingly, we still see them out there in the wild all the time. Often they were covered in terrycloth to help sop up spilled beer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Tompkin's SK Hotel/Lucky Loon Saloon, previously Woody's. It was just a drive by visit and not a stop on the recent Beer Parlour Project tour of SW Saskatchewan. Had it been open we would have checked it out, however. Celebrating old school watering holes at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood Alberta, built in the late 1950s to replace one that earlier burned down. Visited in October 2024 by Chris and Rob. Watch for this hotel and others appearing at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. Celebrating old school watering holes!
Scroll down to the comments for more!👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
A retro, all-metal playground in Burstall Saskatchewan. The rocking horse, aka the tooth chipper or shin buster, was perhaps the most dangerous. Chris says he still has scars from one. But on a summer's day, those slides could get as hot as a baking pan fresh from the oven and gave new meaning to the words toasted buns. If you survived this playground, you were ready to take on the world. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Date: 2024. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Still have my Tandy 1000!! The Source was was a gloried cell phone store.
Worked on a TRS-80 model III at one time. Predated the 1000/2000 series. No arguments here about them focusing too much in cell phones. Westbrook already has too many of those places already.
I miss Radio Shack so much. It was a great place to go get those electronics parts you needed… or batteries. SO MANY BATTERIES.
When they became The Source, they went all USB-gadgety and now resemble those kiosks in the middle of malls that hawk cheap helicopters, cell phones and cases. Bleah.
Yes, the batteries. Every type, shape, form, use. Back then they were the only place to get the odd ones or large quantities of those that were common. Agreed, the Source morphed into something of a joke. Nothing like the old Shack.