# Strangest business combinations you've ever seen **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627 "2015-11-15T13:16:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/61 "2015-11-16T19:02:15Z")
I thought of another one here in town. The front half is a nail salon and the back half is a Vietnamese noodle soup shop. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/62 "2015-11-16T19:07:31Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I thought of another one here in town. The front half is a nail salon and the back half is a Vietnamese noodle soup shop. I’d be kinda nervous about nail dust in my pho. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/63 "2015-11-16T19:23:30Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Des Moines, WA: Smoke & Dress. It’s a clothing store that sells cigarettes, etc. Or maybe it’s a smoke shop that sells clothes. > > [Smoke And Dress - Smoke Shop](https://foursquare.com/v/smoke-and-dress/4da21580b3e7236aa5bb1779) I know where this is! Or, I know where the mall it’s in is. We’ve been to the Goodwill there a few times. Just a few miles up the highway from there used to be a place called Billiards and Beads. I’d always wondered what the story behind that was but it closed before we had a chance to stop in. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/64 "2015-11-16T19:57:12Z")
Harry Murray in Edinburg, VA is a licensed pharmacist, avid fly fisherman, and talented photographer. His shop on Main St. in downtown Edinburg has a photo gallery down the length of one wall, racks of typical drug store items down the middle, a pharmacy counter in the back, and a well-stocked fly shop along the other wall. The last time I was through there several years ago, Mr. Murray himself came out to wait on me and my son and gave us all sorts of good fly fishing advice for the local waters. Very nice man! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/65 "2015-11-16T20:16:32Z")
Several components of the Hubble Space Telescope were made by a company that started off making glass canning jars (they’ve since spun off the canning jars into a separate company). Apparently they started making glass airplane canopies in WW2, and moved from there to other aerospace applications. Yamaha started off making pianos, before realizing that the same equipment used for making heavy steel piano harps could also make motorcycle frames. Ironically, I don’t think they make acoustic pianos any more, just electronic ones. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/66 "2015-11-16T21:44:57Z")
Dante Hardware is both a [kitchen supply shop](http://www.quincailleriedante.com/en/home.html) and a [gun shop](http://www.dantesports.com/en/index.php). The first is relatively common in Montreal, the second is definitely not. The kitchen shop isn’t a front: it stocks high-quality goods, and the owner has a cooking show. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/67 "2015-11-16T22:00:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Several components of the Hubble Space Telescope were made by a company that started off making glass canning jars (they’ve since spun off the canning jars into a separate company). Apparently they started making glass airplane canopies in WW2, and moved from there to other aerospace applications. Once you get into that sort of territory, you’ve got business like the Connecticut Leather Company - which started out making shoe leather, branched out into leather craft hobby kits, and eventually became best known for [a product associated with an entirely different sort of hobby.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColecoVision) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/68 "2015-11-16T22:15:02Z")
Laundromats mixed with bars and other similar businesses make sense because you have a bunch of people sitting around for an hour or so with basically nothing to do. In Petersburgh, Alaska, the office of the Petersburgh Pilot newspaper doubles as an office supply store. The publisher also runs a charter boat service (which was awesome), so it’s a booking office as well. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/69 "2015-11-16T22:34:40Z")
[Mailchimp](http://mailchimp.com/?awid=60434934&awag=21123196134&awad=79457282934&awkw=mail%20chimp.com&pid=GAW&source=website&gclid=CjwKEAiAmqayBRDLgsfGiMmkxT0SJADHFUhPlXgcxUCfOBGp9Dr-7YZF46W-8TVQG9LSrQnJBgcFwhoCfwnw_wcB') sponsors a bunch of podcasts I listen to. Their business is the improbably combination of email aggregater and purveyor of hats for cats and small dogs. It’s a 99/1 kind of thing, but still… ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/70 "2015-11-16T22:51:23Z")
I’m pretty sure it was Phoenix where I saw a liquor, guns and pawn shop combo which, while unusual, didn’t really strike me as odd until I realised it was drive-thru… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/71 "2015-11-17T00:37:24Z")
There used to be a store near here that sold bibles . . . and exterminating supplies. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/72 "2015-11-17T23:28:46Z")
I just remembered another one. Does anyone know if Sioux Falls, SD still has a plethora of little storefront that are 21-and-over sandwich shops, and their main business is actually video gambling? It sure did when I was there in the late 1990s. IIRC, selling food gave the businesses a loophole to exist outside a riverboat. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/73 "2015-11-18T01:12:26Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > There used to be a store near here that sold bibles . . . and exterminating supplies. And if they’re out of supplies, you can just bash the bugs with the bibles. ---
**Author:** ![Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Last_Glacial_Maximum)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/74 "2015-11-19T01:03:40Z")
Somewhere back around 1986 or so, on the outskirts of Rolla Missouri, there was a large business that had an even larger black and white sign on a tall pole. The sign said Liquor/Guns. That’s. It. :dubious: . ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/75 "2015-11-19T01:40:13Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > Laundromats mixed with bars and other similar businesses make sense because you have a bunch of people sitting around for an hour or so with basically nothing to do. If I ever opened a business, I’ve always wanted to create a Laundromat with an attached video arcade for precisely this reason. While the laundry washes you’ve got time on your hands and a lot of quarters, so what’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/76 "2015-11-19T01:50:23Z")
> [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](#): > > The sign said Liquor/Guns. That’s. It. :dubious: What more do you need? Except perhaps the Bibles and extermination supplies. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/77 "2015-11-19T02:10:44Z")
> [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](#): > > The sign said Liquor/Guns. That’s. It. :dubious:. To be fair, they do go together like Love and Marriage. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/78 "2015-11-19T02:18:23Z")
At Valley Brook, a village/township/dunnowhat surrounded by Oklahoma City, there used to be a strip club-bait shop. That’s right; you can see naked chicks and have a beer while getting your minnows put in a can for you. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/79 "2015-11-19T02:32:48Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > … while getting your minnows put in a can for you. _wink wink, nudge nudge_ ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627/80 "2015-11-19T11:22:25Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > At Valley Brook, a village/township/dunnowhat surrounded by Oklahoma City, there used to be a strip club-bait shop. That’s right; you can see naked chicks and have a beer while getting your minnows put in a can for you. Reminded me of a fishing (only) shop called Bangkok Hookers… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strangest-business-combinations-youve-ever-seen/737627.md?page=5)