Going to places like thrift stores is always an adventure. The amount and variety of goods found in these types of stores is so wild that you can’t but be drawn to it with all of its bizarrity. Is that a word? It is now, I guess.
But there is one store in that vein that blows everything out of the water with not only what it sells, but with also how it sells.
And this person recently went to Twitter to show just how bonkers it can actually get in their now-viral Twitter thread.
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Each store has its own unique design, and sometimes it's so unique it becomes a tourist trap, like this Ax-Man Surplus store in Fridley, Minnesota
Image credits: EnfysBook
And author and singer-songwriter Enfys J. Book recently visited and thoroughly documented it in their Twitter thread
Image credits: EnfysBook
Author and singer-songwriter Enfys J. Book, with whom Bored Panda got in touch for an interview, has recently gone to Twitter to share an adventure they had in an Ax-Man Surplus Stores in Minnesota.
Well, all right, the word adventure is probably a bit of an understatement because Enfys explained it as an “absolute bananas” surplus store best described as an “internet [poop]post turned into an *extremely questionable* place of commerce.”
Going there was their cousin’s idea, and once pictures hit the Twitter machine, everyone got a chance to experience something magical.
But it ain't your regular store, oh no, it's definitely some sort of a social experiment in design and marketing
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
“My cousin Theresa and I were just hanging out and browsing thrift stores and such before she took me back to the airport at the end of my visit to the area. She'd told me about the St. Paul location of Ax-Man, which has an iron lung on display, and she was curious if the nearer-to-her location in Fridley was just as weird. We were not disappointed,” explained Enfys.
In their thread, Enfys posted a good handful of pictures best describing the vibe of the store. This not only included some interesting choices of goods, like (for a lack of better words) a strawberry beholder costume and sexy positive reinforcement pins, as well as an interesting choice of advertising of said goods.
Not only are some of the goods weird, but the signs and tags for them make it into an experience to be had
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
In a boring store, you’d see a price tag and 2-4 words signifying what the item on sale is, but this store took it a step further and added some social commentary wrapped in a so-trashy-it’s-good meme format which you can’t but love.
Like plastic toy soldiers that “look like they’re 12 years old,” 4-pack suction cups where the price tag is a doodle of a hairy quadruped sporting them, and an “abacus?” sign on something that is probably an abacus but not even the store people know what it is, so they’re just shooting in the dark at this point.
And this sort of commentary was on almost every product—ceiling hooks, celebration bracelets, a bunch of prom 2020 paraphernalia, festive quilted boxing gloves, thermo cups… the list goes on and on.
Most of these feel like they're self-aware, or that the employees are fighting boredom through creativity. Or both
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
“The weird strawberry holding a mannequin head, with a sign saying ‘I do not like being touched’ in the front of the store certainly left an impression,” explained Enfys when asked about their favorite part of the store.
“But I was also intrigued with their selection of random but useful things, like an extensive collection of corks and little bottles of varying sizes. I feel like, if I lived in the area, I'd go back to buy some of those. Ax-Man seemed to carry a lot of stuff like that, things people occasionally need but aren't available in your average hardware store.”
It’s as if a Pandora’s box was opened and instead of something mysterious, we got something so random it raises more questions than it could possibly answer.
Enfys' cousin took them there, and pics of the comical randomness soon found their way onto to Twitter where they got a lot of attention
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
“The only other photo I took that I didn't include in the thread was a pic of the various sizes of springs they sold,” elaborated Enfys. “I'm a fan of MST3K and Rifftrax, and was going to make a reference to the short ‘A Case of Spring Fever,’ which is all about appreciating the many uses of springs in our everyday lives, but decided not to. They didn't have a funny tag, and I was more interested in highlighting the employees' amazing signs.” We did, however, include that photo later in the article for the curious types.
While the thread had some modest virality, clocking in at a bit over 5,500 likes, people loved it. Some pointed out that this interesting approach to retail, one that battles the drudgery of working there. In fact, it would be a fun place to work at, when you think about it.
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Others straight up said it’s awesome and began inquiring on how the heck you can get there, and it’s in Fridley, Minnesota. Some even said that the signs and oddities have a vibe of the Archie McPhee location in Seattle.
And it didn’t stop there, as the thread was also reposted on Imgur, where it got a similar reaction, except people began pointing out other Ax-Man locations that are weirder, and also got over 128,000 views.
Needless to say, Enfys was surprised by this sudden virality, and they're happy it brought joy to so many people. “I hope it brings Ax-Man some additional business and gets their employees some well-deserved recognition for their hilarious signage,” added Enfys.
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
You can check out the thread on Twitter and Imgur, or browse other articles we have on weird stuff here.
And you can check out everything Enfys does as well: they're a part of the 4-piece naughty nerdy comedy band called The Misbehavin' Maidens, they also run a blog called Major Arqueerna, and they're also the author of Queer Qabala: Nonbinary, Genderfluid, Omnisexual Mysticism & Magick, which is set to come out in June, but can be pre-ordered now.
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
This is that one photo Enfys ended up taking out of the final cut of the thread
Image credits: EnfysBook
Image credits: EnfysBook
Have you been there? If so, what’s your favorite item or part of the store? Or simply give us your thoughts in the comment section below!