Before you could order a phone, television, or pair of headphones online, buying electronics usually meant visiting a store. Families could spend an entire afternoon browsing televisions, stereos, video games, CDs, computers, and all sorts of gadgets that seemed amazing at the time.

For kids growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, these stores were exciting places to visit, even when there was no chance of going home with a new toy or gaming system. You could test headphones, check out the latest consoles, browse music albums, or stare at computers you had only seen in magazines.

Many of these retailers are gone now, but their names still bring back memories for people who grew up shopping there.

RadioShack

RadioShack was one of those stores where you could walk in looking for a battery and end up spending half an hour looking at things you didn’t know you needed. Its shelves were filled with cables, adapters, calculators, walkie-talkies, remote-control cars, computer accessories, and electronic parts.

If you needed an unusual connector or replacement cable, there was a good chance RadioShack had it. Kids were often just as interested in the little gadgets and electronic kits as their parents were in whatever they came to buy.

Blockbuster

Blockbuster wasn’t an electronics retailer, but it played a big part in how families watched movies and played video games before streaming became common. A Friday night trip often meant heading to the nearest store, walking through rows of VHS tapes, and hoping the movie everyone wanted was still available.

Many locations also rented video games, giving kids another reason to tag along. Choosing a movie took time, and there was always the chance that someone else had rented the one you wanted.

For plenty of families, browsing those shelves was part of the fun of movie night.

Circuit City

Circuit City was a familiar name for anyone shopping for televisions, stereos, camcorders, computers, and other home electronics. Its large stores had rows of televisions playing different programs and stereo systems that let shoppers hear the difference between models.

Kids often headed straight for the video game and gadget sections, while parents compared televisions or looked for a new sound system. Buying a major electronic item felt like a big event, and Circuit City was one of the places families visited before deciding.

Tower Records

Tower Records was a favorite stop for music fans who loved browsing CDs, albums, posters, and music magazines. You could spend ages looking through the shelves, checking out new releases, or searching for a particular album you’d been wanting to buy.

Before music was available through streaming apps, finding a new favorite artist often meant spotting an album cover in a store and deciding whether to take a chance. For many people, Tower Records was part of the excitement of discovering new music.

The Wiz

Anyone who grew up in the Northeast may remember the slogan “Nobody Beats The Wiz.” The electronics chain was especially popular around the New York area, selling televisions, stereos, gaming systems, appliances, and other household electronics.

The commercials helped make the name familiar, but shoppers also remember visiting the stores to compare products and check out the latest releases. Buying a television or gaming system was a much bigger purchase back then, and The Wiz was one of the retailers families turned to before spending their money.

CompUSA

For people who bought their first home computer in the 1990s, CompUSA may bring back plenty of memories. Its stores were packed with desktop computers, monitors, printers, software, networking equipment, and shelves of accessories.

Kids often made a beeline for the games and software, while parents tried to figure out which computer had enough memory and the right features for the family. Words like megabytes, gigabytes, modems, and sound cards became part of the shopping conversation, even for people who were still learning what they meant.