They were household names for decades, and they still hold an important place in our collective consciousness. But these once-bright business stars are dimming, and may soon fade out entirely.
"The 80's called, they want their store back." The punchline in the Super Bowl ad for the electronics retailer was a little too on the nose in acknowledging its irrelevance.
It's true that a decade or two ago RadioShack(RSH) was a lot like Starbucks -- there was one on every corner and shoppers always had a good reason to duck inside. But those days aren't coming back in the age of free overnight shipping.
The company is closing hundreds of stores, and shares are trading well below $1. Bankruptcy looks like a real possibility.