PowerLine Electronics to Close After 40 Years in Business

The store has built a loyal customer base, with multiple generations returning for their first stereo or home entertainment system. “We’ve had customers tell us their parents bought their first stereo here, and now they’re coming in for theirs,” Huck noted.

One memorable moment in the company’s early days came the night before its grand opening when an eager customer knocked on the door to purchase a VCR. At the time, VCRs sold for around $500—the equivalent of today’s high-end TVs.

At its peak, Guelph had five or six independent electronics retailers. Today, PowerLine Electronics is the last remaining store of its kind in the city. Huck attributes their longevity to their ability to adapt and compete with big-box retailers. Over the years, the business expanded its services to include Apple CarPlay installations, backup cameras, and in-vehicle alcohol breath testing devices, keeping pace with evolving consumer needs.

Beyond electronics, PowerLine also carries dartboards, pool tables, and foosball tables. The billiard-themed sign outside the store has even led some customers to mistake it for a pool hall, showing up cue sticks in hand, only to learn the tables are for sale—not for play.

Huck and Madigan had no immediate plans to retire, but as interest in their property increased, they began considering it more seriously. “The property was never officially for sale, but we kept getting inquiries,” said Huck. Eventually, they decided the time was right. While the future of the location is uncertain, one thing is clear: it will not continue as an electronics store.

Family and longtime customers have expressed disbelief at the store’s impending closure. “My sister told me she couldn’t believe there wouldn’t be a PowerLine anymore,” Madigan shared.

As for their next chapter, the cousins haven’t made any firm plans but are looking forward to spending more time with their grandchildren.

The official retirement announcement was only posted outside the store on Tuesday morning, and by the afternoon, Huck had already received emails from customers who were in shock. “Seeing the sign makes it real for people,” he said.

After four decades as a staple in Guelph, PowerLine Electronics will close for good on March 31, marking the end of an era for independent electronics retail in the city. “It’s been rewarding to be part of this community and to have built something that people recognize,” Madigan reflected.