Radio Row, Electronics district in Lower Manhattan, United States
Radio Row was a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan filled with small shops selling radios, electronic parts, and communication equipment. The district consisted of narrow streets where vendors and merchants operated shops dedicated to this specialized market.
The neighborhood began in the 1920s when Harry Schneck opened City Radio on Cortlandt Street, attracting other electronics retailers to the area. Over time, it became one of the country's largest electronics marketplaces.
The neighborhood developed into a gathering space for electronics enthusiasts, engineers, and inventors who exchanged knowledge about radio technology advancements.
The neighborhood occupied narrow streets where shops and vendors clustered together, making it easy to walk from one store to another. You could spend time browsing through different shops to find the electronics and parts you wanted.
The entire neighborhood was demolished in 1966 to make way for the original World Trade Center. This sudden disappearance meant that one of the country's most important electronics centers vanished completely.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
