Behind the Business: Plugged Into Electronics Bridges the Past and Future of Tech in Eustis

Walk into Plugged Into Electronics in Eustis and you might feel like you have stepped into two different eras of technology.

One side of the store leans into nostalgia, with original arcade machines, vintage electronics and physical media from a time when technology was something you owned, repaired and kept for years.

Take a left, and you enter the store’s RadioShack side, stocked with electronics, components, refurbished audio and video equipment and the familiar RadioShack name generations once associated with finding that one cable, battery, adapter or part they could not find anywhere else.

For Matthew “Matt” Reaves, President of Plugged Into Electronics – A RadioShack Authorized Dealer, the combination is intentional.

“We are your local hub for anything with a plug,” Matt said. “Basically, if it takes batteries or plugs into a wall, we sell, service and showcase all things tech.”

And on Thursday, August 6 at 4:30 p.m., the community is invited to see it firsthand as the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates Plugged Into Electronics with an official ribbon cutting. The event is free and open to the public, offering a chance to meet Matt, explore the store and welcome one of the Golden Triangle’s newest Chamber businesses.

Filling a Gap in Lake County

Plugged Into Electronics grew from a problem Matt saw locally: broad electronics retail has become difficult to find outside of big-box stores, particularly for used, refurbished and specialty products.

“There are no stores within one hour of Eustis that sell retail electronics on a more broad level, especially used and refurbished, outside of the big box options which carry a limited selection,” he said.

At the same time, he saw another need that felt especially relevant in a community known for antiques, markets and collectors.

Older radios, televisions, audio systems and other electronics continue to change hands throughout Lake County, but finding someone willing and able to restore them is much harder.

“I am not aware of anyone that offers to repair and restore the many antique electronics that are purchased from the local markets,” Matt said.

Today, Plugged Into Electronics combines electronics sales, computer repair, refurbished equipment, IT services and vintage electronics restoration under one roof.

Bringing RadioShack Back — With a New Twist

The RadioShack name adds another chapter to the story.

After RadioShack began allowing new authorized dealer locations to open in the United States, Matt applied and was selected to open what he says is the third RadioShack Authorized Dealer location in Florida.

For longtime electronics enthusiasts, the name carries plenty of nostalgia. But Matt is not simply recreating the RadioShack of decades past. His version combines the neighborhood electronics-store concept with modern computer services, refurbished equipment, IT support and restoration work.

The contrast is built directly into the store.

“Our store is actually two full suites, divided by a central wall,” Matt said. “As you walk in, you are instantly transformed into the 1980s because of our original arcade machines and vintage merchandise.”

Then, he said, customers can turn left into the “RadioShack side,” featuring new RadioShack merchandise, components and refurbished A/V equipment.

Giving Old Technology New Life

Vintage electronics are not just decoration at Plugged Into Electronics.

The business restores older technology at a time when many repair shops focus almost entirely on newer devices. That work can be rewarding, but Matt said it has also taught him one of the harder lessons of the business.

“The biggest challenge in my business has been understanding that not every piece of history that comes across our desk can be fixed,” he said.

Instead of overpromising, Matt said the goal is to do everything reasonably possible to find a solution and take pride in the pieces the team can bring back to life.

That matters when the item on the repair bench is more than a piece of equipment. An old radio, stereo, television or turntable can carry history and memories that a modern replacement cannot reproduce.

A Home for Physical Media

Matt also sees value in something the technology industry has steadily moved away from: ownership.

Streaming and subscriptions have changed how people access entertainment and media, while Plugged Into Electronics is leaning into the tangible.

Matt describes the business as “the destination for all things physical media in this world of subscriptions and lack of ownership.”

That idea fits naturally with the store’s vintage inventory, refurbished equipment and restoration work. Rather than treating older technology as disposable, the business gives customers a place to rediscover it, repair it and keep using it.

Building in the Golden Triangle

For Matt, Lake County offered more than a market opportunity.

“As a person, I love areas that nature abounds, and Lake County is certainly no exception,” he said, pointing to the Harris Chain of Lakes, local wildlife and the quality of life the area provides.

But the people also made an impression.

“The people of the Golden Triangle have been incredibly kind, personable and supportive of small businesses, and I felt like what I offer is a great addition to a very diverse landscape,” Matt said.

As the business grows its roots locally, Matt plans to become a regular vendor at Eustis First Friday and expand his involvement with community organizations and events.

Supporting the Chamber Behind the Scenes

Matt’s relationship with the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce has already grown beyond membership.

Plugged Into Electronics serves as the Chamber’s IT contractor, helping troubleshoot technical issues and strengthen the organization’s digital infrastructure. Matt also helped create a secure server system that allows Chamber staff to remotely access and manage the growing library of videos, photos and media produced to promote members and the Mount Dora area.

For a business known in part for restoring decades-old electronics, the work demonstrates just how comfortably Plugged Into Electronics operates on both sides of the technology spectrum.

What Comes Next

Matt is already looking toward the next phase of the business, including hiring additional experienced technicians and continuing to develop the look, inventory and experience of the RadioShack side of the store.

Building a small business has also taught him that not everything can be planned in advance.

“No matter how much time you spend mapping out the financial responsibilities of a business you intend to open, there are always unexpected expenses and financial challenges that are unpredictable,” Matt said.

For Matt, having support from friends, family and the community has been essential. His advice to other business owners is equally grounded: maintain a healthy work-life balance, because “the business is only as strong as its leadership.”

Come See Plugged Into Electronics

The community will have the opportunity to meet Matt and explore the business during the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Thursday, August 6 at 4:30 p.m.

The celebration is free and open to the public, and Chamber members, local residents, fellow business owners and anyone curious about the return of RadioShack — or the vintage side of the store — are invited to attend.

It is a fitting introduction to a business built around connecting generations of technology: part electronics shop, part repair bench, part trip back in time and entirely its own.

Quick Insights

Why Lake County?
The area’s natural beauty, Harris Chain of Lakes and strong support for small businesses drew Matt to the Golden Triangle.

What makes the business different?
Electronics retail, computer and IT services, refurbished equipment, RadioShack products and vintage restoration all operate under one roof.

Biggest lesson learned:
Unexpected challenges are inevitable, making support from friends, family and the community critical.

Something people may not know:
The store spans two suites, moving from vintage merchandise and original arcade machines into a modern RadioShack retail space.

What’s next?
More experienced technicians, continued development of the RadioShack side and deeper involvement in the local community.

Advice to other business owners:
Maintain a healthy work-life balance. Strong leadership starts with taking care of the person leading the business.