# Most specialized store you know of **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171 "2005-08-01T17:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/21 "2005-08-01T22:37:53Z")
Poor Jean Teasdale of _The Onion_ and her father recently got involved in an ill-fated year-round Christmas shop. There actually is, or was, such a place near Erie, PA. I can’t imagine wanting to shop for Christmas kitsch, well, anytime, never mind year-round. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/22 "2005-08-01T22:42:05Z")
Not far from my office is a place called Bearing Agencies that sells bearings. Not compass directions, but ball bearings. Despite the plural name, there seems to be just that one shop. A similar distance away from here in another direction is a shop that sells casters. Maybe the occasional cart or dolly, but casters is their primary purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/23 "2005-08-01T22:42:54Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > David Letterman did a bit once where he found a store in NYC called JUST BULBS. It was a modern-looking (clean lines, black and silver decor) store which sold nothing but rows and rows and rows of light bulbs. He asked the clerk there what if he wanted a shade, and she said “I guess you’d have to find a place called JUST SHADES.” Jump cut to JUST SHADES, a tiny little cluttered store run by a little old lady who sold nothing but lampshades. Tiny little cluttered stores with very limited product lines are a quintessentially New York phenomenon, probably because of the city’s long tradition of small-time jobber-wholesalers competing feverishly for ever smaller niches to differentiate themselves. My favorite story was of the guy who for 40+ years marketed the [Dial-a-Pic](http://www.hubert.com/store/catalog/c/139/s/1298/ss/15361/src//page.htm), the ubiquitous stainless-steel toothpick dispenser. He was a one-man company whose entire line was one model of one product. Of _course,_ it has a model number: S-11. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/24 "2005-08-01T22:47:53Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > Poor Jean Teasdale of _The Onion_ and her father recently got involved in an ill-fated year-round Christmas shop. There actually is, or was, such a place near Erie, PA. I can’t imagine wanting to shop for Christmas kitsch, well, anytime, never mind year-round. There’s one of those in San Francisco for reasons I can’t begin to understand. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/25 "2005-08-01T22:53:10Z")
There are several “Condoms to Go” stores in the Dallas area. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/26 "2005-08-01T22:55:23Z")
WOOT! I guess it’s up to me to mention Ned Flander’s **Leftorium** , selling only items for left-handed people. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/27 "2005-08-01T22:55:34Z")
There used to be TWO Christmas stores in Savannah. I can’t imagine the horror of having to work there year round. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/28 "2005-08-01T22:58:01Z")
> [@pudytat72](#): > > There are several “Condoms to Go” stores in the Dallas area. Yikes! What’s the alternative? ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/29 "2005-08-01T22:59:03Z")
One of my professors mentioned going to Akhibara once and finding a manwho sold red push-buttons for electronics projects. That’s it. Only red push-buttons. If you want a red pushbutton, he’s your man. Momentaries, toggles, light-up or not, almost any shape or size, he could get you a red pushbutton. You want a red dial? Sorry; he knows a guy who can help you out, but he doesn’t have it. How about a blue pushbutton? Sorry; once again, he can point you in the right direction, but he doesn’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/30 "2005-08-01T23:08:37Z")
We have a flag store here. First, it is uncommon to fly a flag in this area. Second, if you had a burning desire for a Canadian flag, you can pick one up very cheaply without the expense of paying for parking to visit a downtown boutique. I expect the shop to be open approximately five more minutes, if it hasn’t sunk already. I have no idea what the owner was thinking setting up shop here. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/31 "2005-08-01T23:15:39Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > WOOT! I guess it’s up to me to mention Ned Flander’s **Leftorium** , selling only items for left-handed people. I haven’t been in a while, so I can’t say if it still exists, but there was a store like that here in San Diego at Seaport Village, a local tourist trap. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/32 "2005-08-01T23:28:07Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > How 'bout The Pet Door Store? At first I thought their retail presence was on-line only, but it would seem they have an actual storefront in Seattle, WA. > [http://www.thepetdoorstore.com/index.htm](http://www.thepetdoorstore.com/index.htm) BWAHA! I took one look at the name, and thought to myself, “That sounds like a business that would do well here in Ballard, Greenwood, or Fremont.” Sure enough: Greenwood. Seriously, just cruise around north Seattle and you could probably find hundreds of these funky little specialised stores. And they do well! I’ll have to keep my eyes open for a contribution to this thread next time Mr. Stasaeon and I go for a drive. Or hell, next time I go for a walk. 😃 Oh! I thought of one, I think it’s around Greenwood or Phinney Ridge… or maybe it’s near the University? (still learning my way around here, I’m just a small town girl… thankfully this is a small city) - here in Seattle is a little bakery dedicated solely to selling specialised “adult” themed cakes and pastries. You need a cake that looks like a penis or a nice firm set of boobs? You go there. I can’t remember the name of it anymore, I’ll ask Mr. Stasaeon when he gets home. The company he works for is all male, and they like to go there and buy each other penis cakes for birthdays and send-offs. What’s that? Why, yes, I trust my husband not to sleep around on me. He never looks at other women… what? Oh. _OHH_! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/33 "2005-08-01T23:35:04Z")
I have two friends who once worked at the Chicago **Newton Source**. It was a national chain that sold Apple Newton PDAs and associated accessories _only_. They would often mention days where there were zero purchases. ---
**Author:** ![Bendarr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@Bendarr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bendarr)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/34 "2005-08-02T00:41:11Z")
In the local area (or at least I’ve seen adverts for it) is a place called “The stool store” they sold (You guessed it!)… stools. 3 legged, 4 legged, with backs and without backs. Nothing but stools. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/35 "2005-08-02T00:43:08Z")
> [@Bendarr](#): > > In the local area (or at least I’ve seen adverts for it) is a place called “The stool store” they sold (You guessed it!)… stools. 3 legged, 4 legged, with backs and without backs. Nothing but stools. Reminds me of _Waiting For Guffman_ ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/36 "2005-08-02T00:49:38Z")
I remember a skit on an ensemble type TV show, someone worked in a place called The Ball Store. The store was totally empty except for one ball on a table. A customer walks in and announces he wants to buy the ball and the salesman won’t sell it because if he did, he wouldn’t have anything to sell and would have to go out of business. The customer suggests the salesman go get more balls to sell and the salesman says he doesn’t have the money to buy more balls till he sells the ball he has. It ends with the customer buying the whole store for a ridiculous price and the salesman walking off with a fist full of money. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/37 "2005-08-02T00:56:23Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Oh! I thought of one, I think it’s around Greenwood or Phinney Ridge… or maybe it’s near the University? (still learning my way around here, I’m just a small town girl… thankfully this is a small city) - here in Seattle is a little bakery dedicated solely to selling specialised “adult” themed cakes and pastries. You need a cake that looks like a penis or a nice firm set of boobs? You go there. I can’t remember the name of it anymore, I’ll ask Mr. Stasaeon when he gets home. The company he works for is all male, and they like to go there and buy each other penis cakes for birthdays and send-offs. What’s that? Why, yes, I trust my husband not to sleep around on me. He never looks at other women… what? Oh. _OHH_! That would be the [erotic bakery.](http://www.theeroticbakery.com/home.asp) NOTE: Link probably not work safe, use caution. I knew of some management types at my work that were suspended for bringing a cake from this bakery onto company property. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/38 "2005-08-02T04:09:46Z")
Are candle stores really unusual? There’s one in my local mall. I’d assume they’d sell matches, too, but I don’t know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/39 "2005-08-02T04:33:09Z")
Used to be a kite store in my neighborhood, but I guess the idea really didn’t fly. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171/40 "2005-08-02T04:42:30Z")
> [@pudytat72](#): > > There are several “Condoms to Go” stores in the Dallas area. Yeah, we have a bunch in Montreal too, with names like Le Condom du Fun and La Capoterie. > [@Cyros](#): > > We have a flag store here. Here too, a fairly large store one metro stop down from where I live. They have every conceivable flag. I think if you wanted the flag of the capital district of East Borogrovia, they would have it in stock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-specialized-store-you-know-of/315171.md?page=3)