People talk about how independent bookstores went out of business due to online retailers—but the same thing happened to camera stores and electronics part houses as well. Used to be if you wanted a PC board blank or a darlington transistor or a quality soldering iron or any of a billion things you can't find at Radio Shack, you went to the local electronics store.
They're still around but are few and far between, and they're a lot smaller now. Locating them is surprisingly difficult: the old Yellow Pages is gone and new ones aren't much account; web searches for electronics stores turn up all sorts of things, including Best Buy and car-radio specialists and satellite-tv installers. So This is my attempt to locate the few that are left in my own stomping grounds. If you wish to contribute, please contact me and give me the info.
The criteria to be on this page are:
- Must be located in one of the following California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside or San Bernardino.
- Must have an actual brick & mortar storefront. Online-only retailers can be found with your favorite search engine.
- Must be open to the public, not just business-to-business.
- Must have an adequate general stock of parts, tools, etc. Companies that specialize in a narrow category are not what I'm after here.
I do not recommend or endorse any of these retailers: I am a customer of a few; others I only know of, but have never been there. Also please note that information like phone numbers and hours of operation are subject to change without my knowledge.
Also note: I am not including Radio Shack or Fry's Electronics. Neither really qualify is a serious parts house; and Fry's is really just a better-stocked Radio Shack.
Directory of Southern California Electronics Parts Houses
Jump to: Los Angeles - Orange - Riverside - San Bernardino
(sorted by county, city)
Los Angeles County
Monrovia
Orvac Electronics
1120 Shamrock Ave., Monrovia CA 91016
Cross-street: E. Cypress
(626) 796-3291
Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 5pm
Sat: 10am to 3pm
Sun: Closed
Website: www.orvac.com
Note: also has a Fullerton (Orange county) location
Torrance
Torrance Electronics
1545 W Carson St, Torrance CA 90501
Cross-streets: between Western and Normandie
(310) 328-2501
Mon-Sat: unknown
Sun: Closed
Van Nuys
All Electronics
14928 Oxnard St., Van Nuys CA 91411
Cross-street: Kester
(818) 997-1806
(800) 826-5432
Mon-Fri: 9am to 6:30pm
Sat: 9am to 5pm
Sun: Closed
Website: www.allelectronics.com
Orange County
Costa Mesa
Marvac Electronics
2001 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa CA 92627
Cross-street: W. Bay
(949) 650-2001 or (800) 655-6686
Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 6pm
Sat: 9am to 5:30pm
Sun: Closed
Website: www.marvac.com
Note: also has Santa Barbara and Sacramento locations
Fullerton
Orvac Electronics
1645 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton CA 92831
Cross-street: S. Acacia Ave.
(714) 871-1020
Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 6pm
Sat: 9am to 5:30pm
Sun: Closed
Website: www.orvac.com
Note: also has a Monrova (LA county) location
Westminster
JK Electronics
6401 Westminster Blvd., Westminster CA 92683
Cross-street: Edwards
(714) 890-4001
Mon-Fri: 9am to 6pm
Sat: 10am to 5pm
Sun: Closed
Website: www.jkelectronics.com
Riverside County
Riverside
Electronics Warehouse
2691 Main Street, Riverside, Ca. 92501
Cross-street: Poplar
(951) 686-6186
Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Sat: 9am to 1pm
Sun: Closed
Website: www.electronicswarehouse.net
R-Vac
9462 Magnolia Ave., Riverside CA 92503
Mon-Sun: OUT OF BUSINESS
San Bernardino County
No listings. A sad state of affairs for the largest county in the entire United States.