As the host of the Herald's "Rummaging with Ryan" promotion the last four years, I've learned several lessons.
The most important one is to avoid serious injury by not sitting next to the vehicle door. When the vehicle comes to a stop at a garage sale, stampeding women with suitcases for purses ruthlessly will trample anyone, even toddlers, in their path to 10-cent used Tupperware.
The other two lessons are clichés: 1) "One person's trash is another person's treasure;" and 2) "The thrill is in the hunt," which fits for deer and second-hand wares.
That means a new store in Grand Forks has the perfect name for appealing to those shopaholics and bargain-hunters. It's called Treasure Hunters. With its goods piled (not always neatly) everywhere, it has the feel of a monstrous garage sale, with the garage being an Air Force hangar.
Treasure Hunters is located in the strip mall off Columbia Road, just northeast of the Columbia Mall. Although it has had more tenants over the years than Madonna's boudoir, it may be best known as the Best building. The Herald spent a year there while rebuilding downtown after the flood.
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Treasure Hunters is not into presentation, as some merchandise is still in cardboard shipping boxes. It's not into departmentalizing, as Frisbees are next to books, which are next to beaded necklaces, which are next to soccer shin guards, which are next to Halloween lights, which are next to latex examination gloves. Practicing proctology out of your den? Here's a deal for you!
Instead, it's about variety, volume and pricing.
It has items that I didn't know existed. One example is replacement handles for suitcases. Who knew you could change handles on suitcases, much less have multiple colors and sizes as options?
Who knew you could buy those snap-down plastic food containers that are used for restaurant leftovers and takeout?
And who knew that there was something for shoppers who enjoy gambling? The gamble comes with crated furniture that has been returned to a store. "Sold as is, with no returns," the packaging said. "It might be missing parts. Buy unopened. You may need a little creativity."
Steve Rolerat, the store manager, said the owner acquires much of the merchandise at going-out-of-business auction sales.
He must have attended a lot of auctions. You'd be hard-pressed to find more eclectic merchandise anywhere else.
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send e-mail to rbakken@gfherald.com .
