RadioShack lives on even after filing for bankruptcy

New York

YES, RadioShack has filed for bankruptcy in a move that has been long time coming. No, that doesn't mean that the RadioShack brand will be swept from the great American corporate landscape. In fact, more than 1,000 franchised RadioShack locations will be virtually untouched by the grim news for the company, selling the same old batteries and gadgets as before. The restructuring plan would keep up to 1,750 RadioShack-controlled stores open under Sprint's ownership. The phone carrier gets the right to use 600 square feet of the RadioShack locations as "stores-within-stores" to show off Sprint-branded phones and other products, and Sprint would be the dominant brand featured on the signs on the outside of these stores and advertisements. RadioShack will still get a lesser piece of signage. Sprint, which has emphasised its need for new stores, will get to cherry-pick the most attractive locations.

The rest of the 4,000 or so stores that RadioShack owns would be closed. But even at a fraction of its former footprint, a 1,750-store count for combination RadioShack-Sprint stores would be about equal to Verizon's retail empire or the number of outposts for popular fast-casual chain like Panera and Chipotle.