# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/81 "2017-03-26T23:34:49Z")
> [@MonkeyMensch](#): > > without going off to see if there still in business there was a map store not too far from me and it was heaven to go visit. I got my brother an upside=down world map for Christmas one year and it was wonderful how strange all of the landmasses looked just by swapping N and S on the map. of course all the names and labelss were orinted correctly. There used to be a Rand McNally store in Chicago, right near the Wrigley Building. Alas, it is long gone. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/82 "2017-03-26T23:43:10Z")
Here in the PacNW we have a small chain of four [Root Beer](https://www.therootbeerstore.com) stores. ---
**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 26, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/83 "2017-03-26T23:52:12Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > There’s a store in my home town that sells nothing but buttons: > > [Exclusive Buttons](https://www.yelp.com/biz/exclusive-buttons-el-cerrito) > > Out of curiosity, I stopped in there once and talked to the owner. Her husband used to be a traveling button salesman with a route that covered northern California. The internet cut into his business so much that he quit, and she created a brick-and-mortar store with his remaining inventory. > > The woman was quite proud of the fact that she sells no plastic buttons. Her buttons are made from metal, glass, wood, shell. . . but no plastic. Similarly, there’s a [button store](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/nyregion/tender-buttons-shop-upper-east-side-nyc-fashion-cure-for-the-lost-button.html) in Manhattan. And there’s [another store](https://www.zipperstop.com/) that specializes in zippers, although that’s not all it sells. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/84 "2017-03-27T00:28:54Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Also heavily visited tourist towns tend to have some really specific stores. > > I think Las Vegas still has that hot sauce store that was two stories tall. I also remember Circus Circus having a storefront that exclusively sold magic trick kits. Does Las Vegas still have the store that sells nothing but M&Ms in every color, and M&M merchandise? ETA: Saw a later post. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/85 "2017-03-27T00:51:10Z")
Map stores used to be a thing in most cities - this is one of those things that has largely disappeared over time. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/86 "2017-03-27T01:13:29Z")
Well, hell, there’s all kinds of stores around here that sell paint. I still have no idea how a paint store stay in business when there’s invariably a Home Depot within five minutes. You can buy ten different brands of paint at a Home Depot, from the cheap shit on up to the really, really good stuff, at prices that will beat anyone. I can understand in a weird way what a sock store or a purple store would do a sort of quirky trade, but how do paint stores makes it? It’s not from contractors, because I’ve asked four contractors now this very question and to a man they all said “I get my paint from Home Depot (or Lowe’s, or some similar outfit) and so does everyone I know. No idea how paint stores are still a thing.” ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/87 "2017-03-27T01:46:27Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The Bone Room in Berkeley. Now closed, though they still have an online presence. Do they sell all sorts of bones? Because if they do, I think [Skulls Unlimited](http://www.skullsunlimited.com/) beats them out for specificity. (Kidding - actually, they sell all bones as well.) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/88 "2017-03-27T02:26:40Z")
> [@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. Long shot, but is it called [Oilerie](http://www.oilerie.com/)? I think it’s set up as a franchise (so they’re getting out of my home state and the midwest), but before he doing the oil thing, I did a lot of business with Curt. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/89 "2017-03-27T02:27:40Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Do they sell all sorts of bones? Because if they do, I think [Skulls Unlimited](http://www.skullsunlimited.com/) beats them out for specificity. > > (Kidding - actually, they sell all bones as well.) Well, until someone makes the Boner Room (“Baculums and only baculums!”) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/90 "2017-03-27T03:57:29Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Link didn’t work for me. Was it this Purple Store in [Seattle](https://www.thepurplestore.com)? Yes. In Greenlake. ---
**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 27, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/91 "2017-03-27T04:18:47Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Map stores used to be a thing in most cities - this is one of those things that has largely disappeared over time. [Islamorada](http://www.islamorada.com/) here in Panama specializes in nautical charts and other nautical publications. Of course, the Panama Canal is a logical place for such a store. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/92 "2017-03-27T04:20:36Z")
I know of a long-running vintage map store in Bangkok too. Some fascinating stuff in there, and it ain’t cheap either. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/93 "2017-03-27T12:55:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, hell, there’s all kinds of stores around here that sell paint. > > I still have no idea how a paint store stay in business when there’s invariably a Home Depot within five minutes. You can buy ten different brands of paint at a Home Depot, from the cheap shit on up to the really, really good stuff, at prices that will beat anyone. > > I can understand in a weird way what a sock store or a purple store would do a sort of quirky trade, but how do paint stores makes it? It’s not from contractors, because I’ve asked four contractors now this very question and to a man they all said “I get my paint from Home Depot (or Lowe’s, or some similar outfit) and so does everyone I know. No idea how paint stores are still a thing.” Better training? Last time I was in a Home Depot, someone was trying to match a specific Pantone color to ANY paint and got no joy. Seems the all-paint shops can do that. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/94 "2017-03-27T13:08:00Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Better training? Last time I was in a Home Depot, someone was trying to match a specific Pantone color to ANY paint and got no joy. Seems the all-paint shops can do that. Yeah. There is a \ in the town that I work. Five minutes from my office. The big box store is in another town, but just about 15 min away. Since I don’t paint that much, I much prefer going to the specialty place. And it’s damn damn good paint. Service is good, and matching is no problem at all. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/95 "2017-03-27T14:07:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, hell, there’s all kinds of stores around here that sell paint. > > I still have no idea how a paint store stay in business when there’s invariably a Home Depot within five minutes. You can buy ten different brands of paint at a Home Depot, from the cheap shit on up to the really, really good stuff, at prices that will beat anyone. > > I can understand in a weird way what a sock store or a purple store would do a sort of quirky trade, but how do paint stores makes it? It’s not from contractors, because I’ve asked four contractors now this very question and to a man they all said “I get my paint from Home Depot (or Lowe’s, or some similar outfit) and so does everyone I know. No idea how paint stores are still a thing.” When you talked to contractors, were you talking to contractors that just called themselves that but were actually just guys running their own business with no employees or people with 10+ employees? IME, people with lots of employees like to use actual paint stores (ie Benjamin Moore) because they can keep a line of credit there. Then, they can call, order the paint they need for a job and have their guys pick it up on the way there. Or if the someone out on a job needs a new part for the paint sprayer or some roller covers or whatever, no one is running around for money or a credit card to run to Home Depot, they can just go down to Benny Moore and have them put it account. Also, as someone else said, you get a lot more experience from the people that have owned the paint store for 25 years than the people that have been working at the Home Depot counter for 3 months. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/96 "2017-03-27T14:45:24Z")
> [@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. 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. I work in the lighting industry in New York. Just Bulbs is one of those places that I don’t use much -( mostly because of retail pricing ) but when you need them you really need them and they’ve pulled my butt out of a fire a couple of times. Most of my cohort feels the same way. They really do stock EVERYTHING. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/97 "2017-03-27T15:06:01Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > There’s an oil and vinegar store in Canandaigua and they’ve been in business for several years. They sell aged balsamic and spice-infused oils and I think the cheapest pints is around $10. The only times I’ve been there was during the holiday season but they are always busy then (with around 4 other customers in there.) :eek: I had no idea such stores actually existed. In fact, I opened this thread just to see if anyone had mentioned one of my favorite fake stores from the Simpsons - [_Just Vinegar_](https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Just_Vinegar). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/98 "2017-03-27T15:23:27Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There used to be a “store” in Boston called. Gargoyles, Grotesques and Chimeras. I put that in quotes because it wasn’t a conventional store at all. It was on posh Newbury street but it wasn’t marked and it was only open some of the time during irregular hours. You just had to show up and look for it among endless rows of brownstones to figure it out yourself. > > The only person that worked there was the (very nice if not extremely eccentric) owner. It was like stepping into the storeroom of a European cathedral. There were often leaves on the floor, this strange musty smell and this very odd, slow tempo piano music recorded by the owner on infinite loop called “The Anatomy of Melancholy” playing in the background. It was possible to buy things because I did it a few times but nothing had a price tag on it and the selection of the day was just laid about in seemingly random patterns that probably weren’t. > > Here is a picture of what some of it looked like but this photo only shows a small part of the “store”. Still, if you needed any combination of gargoyles, grotesques OR chimeras, this was the place you needed to go as long as you could figure out where it was and when it was open. > > [Inside - Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-gargoyles-grotesques-and-chimeras-boston?select=qGcs7fBD95ktYyY5Dqc8RQ) I LOVED _Gargoyles_. The floor of the store was (deliberately) covered in dry leaves. I bought several inexpensive plaster of paris gargoyles there as inspiration for the “Gargoyles” chapter in my book. Across the street there used to be another store called **The Gods** , which sold nothing but statues, paintings, and bas reliefs of gods from various pantheons around the world. There was another store in Provincetown. There’s **Rita Ford Music Boxes** at 18 East 65th Street in New York City, just off Central Park. I don’t know if it’s still there (the current website gives an address in New Jersey – [http://www.ritafordmusicboxes.com/](http://www.ritafordmusicboxes.com/) ), but it was fabulous store that sold only music boxes, including some enormous room-sized devices that sounded like organs. Little old Rita Ford used to run the store, but I’m sure she’s dead by now. There are several recordings available made from the music boxes in her store. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/99 "2017-03-27T15:38:29Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yeah. There is a \ in the town that I work. Five minutes from my office. The big box store is in another town, but just about 15 min away. > > Since I don’t paint that much, I much prefer going to the specialty place. And it’s damn damn good paint. Service is good, and matching is no problem at all. My uncle actually ran a paint store for many years. We broke a leaf spring on the truck helping him haul all his stuff from one place to another. One of the pieces of equipment he had was a large color mixer, so if he did not have the right shade on the shelf, he could cook it up for you. A big box store usually cannot offer that kind of service/skill. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981/100 "2017-03-27T16:32:48Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > :eek: I had no idea such stores actually existed. In fact, I opened this thread just to see if anyone had mentioned one of my favorite fake stores from the Simpsons - [_Just Vinegar_](https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Just_Vinegar). I feel like that’s a place that could thrive IRL, given the right market (Whole Foods crowd). They’d probably sell olive oil, too though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-oddly-specific-retail-store/782981.md?page=6)