Universal Radio closing November 30, 2020

[AK9R]

Fred and Barbara Osterman, the people behind Universal Radio in Worthington (Columbus), Ohio, are retiring and closing the store permanently on November 30, 2020. Existing customer orders will be fulfilled.

Their letter to their customers here:

Retirement notice.

 

[prcguy]

How sad, Fred is a really nice guy along with their other employees. I hope the other employees can line up other jobs or maybe buy Fred out and continue with the business.

 

[MDScanFan]

That’s unfortunate to hear. I really enjoyed buying from universal over the years. Their customer service is great. Their website is also a great resource for info on current and discontinued radios, antennas, etc.

 

[mjschwartz2003]

such a shame this is a great place....i used to go into their shop when it was off of Brice road many times...ive been to the "new location " once....

 

[vagrant]

Rats, I call them first to check stock and then order new and occasionally used gear.

 

[gtaman]

Sad to see them go. Excellent prices and I loved going to the store and playing with all the new equipment. Hopefully someone picks up where they are leaving off. Not many brick and mortar places to get parts anymore.

 

[ILjim]

Very sad to hear this. I think I'm going to buy a thing or two before it closes for good...

 

[iMONITOR]

Sad. I've been doing business with them for over 50 years. I'll miss everybody and all the cats & kittens!

 

[N6JPA]

Fred and Barbara Osterman, the people behind Universal Radio in Worthington (Columbus), Ohio, are retiring and closing the store permanently on November 30, 2020. Existing customer orders will be fulfilled.

Their letter to their customers here:

Retirement notice.

I've been a customer for over twenty years. Thanks to the owners and staff for their excellent service.

 

[mbott]

My first non-kit radio came from them when they were in Reynoldsburg. In 1991 I picked up a Sony 2010 there. Still have the radio and the original receipt. In their latest location, they were a left, right, left and left and about 8 minutes.

--
Mike

 

[captainmax1]

Hate to see them go. I have made many purchases there and one of the first places I check for prices and specs on a product I'm interested in.

 

[ka3jjz]

This is quite the tragedy for the hobby as a whole. I wish Fred, Barbara and all the other employees GodSpeed in their future endevors.

Mike

 

[WX4JCW]

I use to go in person , all my SDS radios came from there

 

[MrThompson]

As a customer for almost 30 years, thank you Fred and Barbara for the excellent customer service and conversations.

73,

Colin

 

[palmerjrusa]

Sad to see Universal Radio closing, it was my favorite place to go to out at Reynoldsburg when I came to the US, it has the best virtual storefront of any of the Amateur Radio retailers.

Unless the decision to close was a recent one, I wonder why they relocated so recently?
It doesn't sound like anyone else is going to keep the business going.

 

[danesgs]

Thank you Universal for a great place for radios, parts and support. Enjoy your retirement!

73
KJ4DGE

 

[fire38756]

Sad to see them go. Great business and great website. Thank you for being there for us for so many years. Enjoy retirement.

 

[Go-West]

They will be remembered for great service over the years and thanks for all of it.

 

[nevesjerry]

Unbelievable! Such nice group of people. Why is there a constant demise of places like this? Is it because people don’t buy enough merchandise? Hope the employees get together and purchase the business! Sad!

 

[palmerjrusa]

Unbelievable! Such nice group of people. Why is there a constant demise of places like this? Is it because people don’t buy enough merchandise? Hope the employees get together and purchase the business! Sad!

Would be great if they did, but I wonder just how economically viable it is at present or would be in the future.