# Most oddly specific retail store **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981 "2017-03-25T02:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/1 "2017-03-25T02:58:57Z")
What was the most oddly specific physical retail location you have seen? -Today I saw a store called the “Bird Seed Depot” selling nothing but seed and bird houses. -“Purrrniture” nothing but cat furniture and toys. What do you guys have? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/2 "2017-03-25T03:17:11Z")
I used to go to a store in Midtown Manhattan that sold nothing but seashells. ---
**Author:** ![pabstist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pabstist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pabstist)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/3 "2017-03-25T03:19:16Z")
“The Leftorium”, owned by stupid Ned Flanders. He only sells things for left handed people. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/4 "2017-03-25T03:26:35Z")
David Letterman used to do a bit about a store that only sold light bulbs, called Just Bulbs, and another store called Just Shades. There is still a Just Bulbs and a Just Shades in NYC, I _think_ they are the same businesses, but not in the same locations that were featured on the show. Every time I pass Just Shades, it’s like I hear the entire sketch in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/5 "2017-03-25T03:27:49Z")
That Letterman bit is the first thing I thought of. I think he annoyed people in those stores by asking them if they sold anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/6 "2017-03-25T03:28:00Z")
We have one around here that just sells batteries. We used to have two stores called Purrsnickety and Bow-Wowsers (they were in the same space, with two different signs and entrances) that sold nothing but cat- and dog-related stuff. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/7 "2017-03-25T03:32:23Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > David Letterman used to do a bit about a store that only sold light bulbs, called Just Bulbs, and another store called Just Shades. T **here is still a Just Bulbs** and a Just Shades in NYC, I _think_ they are the same businesses, but not in the same locations that were featured on the show. Every time I pass Just Shades, it’s like I hear the entire sketch in my mind. > [@Infovore](#): > > **We have one around here that just sells batteries.** > > We used to have two stores called Purrsnickety and Bow-Wowsers (they were in the same space, with two different signs and entrances) that sold nothing but cat- and dog-related stuff. [Batteries Plus Bulbs.](https://www.batteriesplus.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/8 "2017-03-25T03:59:24Z")
Funny story about BatterysPlus: Drove a friend down there to pick up some obscure projector bulb. While there, he says, “I need a battery for this watch”, and takes it off, handing it to the guy behind the counter. Guy says, “We’re not allowed to open these. We’re afraid of getting sued if we damage them”. At which point, Guy hands over a\* **Big Fucking Sharp Knife** \* to my buddy, and says, “You open it”. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/9 "2017-03-25T03:59:53Z")
When I visited the Mall of America, something like 25 years ago, there was a store selling just socks. Not that unusual, I suppose, but in my naiveté at the time I thought it was pretty odd. There was a store in the Daly City (just south of San Francisco) area, again a few years back, that just sold batteries, everything from those little disc batteries and hearing aid batteries, up to car batteries. They don’t seem to be there any more. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/10 "2017-03-25T04:05:15Z")
It’s [SPATULA CITY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XbCWmY0eqY)! ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/11 "2017-03-25T04:11:26Z")
We have a store that sells oil and vinegar. I’m sure it’s very nice oil and vinegar, but I don’t know how they can pay the rent (even for a tiny little store) by selling oil and vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/12 "2017-03-25T04:26:27Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > We have a store that sells oil and vinegar. I’m sure it’s very nice oil and vinegar, but I don’t know how they can pay the rent (even for a tiny little store) by selling oil and vinegar. Maybe the owners have a more nefarious business concern and the oil and vinegar store is just window dressing. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/13 "2017-03-25T04:37:34Z")
I always thought [the Door Store](http://www.thedoorstore.com.au/) was oddly narrow, but I guess it isn’t as weird as all that. A lot of things need doors, knobs, hinges, or latches. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/14 "2017-03-25T04:44:08Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > We have a store that sells oil and vinegar. I’m sure it’s very nice oil and vinegar, but I don’t know how they can pay the rent (even for a tiny little store) by selling oil and vinegar. I went into that store once and didn’t like it at all. The two people who ran it were very unpleasant. One was tart to me and the other was oleaginous. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/15 "2017-03-25T04:46:59Z")
I also think the phone case stores that clutter up the aisles of shopping malls have to be fronts for something, because there’s no way my low-income suburb can sustain all fifteen of the damn things. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/16 "2017-03-25T05:41:32Z")
There used to be a nationwide chain that only sold ties called “The Tie Rack” with hundreds of stores mostly located in malls. It had so much cash it was able to get product placement in the Adam Sandler film “Eight Crazy Nights” which is the only reason I know about them. They shuttered their last stores in 2013. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/17 "2017-03-25T05:41:34Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > It’s [SPATULA CITY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XbCWmY0eqY)! [Tex & Edna Boil’s Organ Emporium](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS5zNX2zVbk) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/18 "2017-03-25T07:48:14Z")
Do the specialist shops inside airports count? I’ve seen some really specific examples of those - one that just sold live lobsters (I think in that case you buy them, they put it in the hold of the plane you are travelling on, and you collect it at the arrivals baggage reclaim at your destination) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/19 "2017-03-25T08:07:09Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > We have a store that sells oil and vinegar. I’m sure it’s very nice oil and vinegar, but I don’t know how they can pay the rent (even for a tiny little store) by selling oil and vinegar. Well they might sell those in the same store now, but they will inevitably separate. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/20 "2017-03-25T08:08:10Z")
I used to drive past a store in Lakewood, CO that sold nothing but T- shirts. They weren’t even decorated T-shirts, just plain old white and colored shirts without any kinds of pictures or sayings on them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981.md?page=2)