Akron’s The Bomb Shelter
Man-tiques & Vintage Treasures
By Sean Tuttle
Since the threat of nuclear attacks in the 1960s, until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, bomb shelters were a safe haven for families who wanted to outlast a nuclear winter. Today, the majority of these bomb shelters have been decommissioned or made into museums. It was through the grapevine of CoolCleveland that I heard about a new bomb shelter in Akron. This bomb shelter may not protect you from a nuclear winter, but it’s certainly a great location to find gifts and goodies this winter. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to check it out.
Watch the Cool Cleveland exclusive interview with the men behind the bomb shelter here.
It only took a moment to realize this was no ordinary bomb shelter, as I pulled up to the building. Although a pickup truck out front did look like it came from the ’60s, there was no way this building would stand a nuclear war. I didn’t have to think twice about being in the wrong place though; hanging over the front door was a makeshift bomb. As I opened the door and walked inside, nothing could prepare me for what came next. I was standing in a 15,000 square foot time capsule of trinkets, furniture and other odd things. Items dating from every era of the 20th century – and all of it for sale!
After speaking with owners Damon Drummond and Kevin Royer, I learned that this place is a wonderland for people looking for items that may have been part of their past, or for collector’s pieces of all kinds. Walking through the shelter, it’s easy to feel like a picker on television looking for treasure, and that’s not so far from the truth. The owners of the shop find a lot of their items just like the pickers you might see on television. Both the owners and the customers agree that everything inside is priced to sell. “We want the stuff to come in here, be viewed and enjoyed, and find a good home,” says Kevin Royer. “To do that means that the prices have to be fair.” With prices ranging from 50 cents to $3,000, there are treasures to be found in the bomb shelter for all budgets and walks of life.
Since its grand opening on August 5, 2011, the bomb shelter has blossomed into one of the most intriguing and dynamically unique stores in Akron. Talk of an expansion that will add a thrift store called “Thrift-O-Rama” by the owners is already in the works. For those of you not able to make the trip to Akron, you can find several items through the Bomb Shelter on Ebay. Visit TheBombShelterStore.com, or call (330) 258-0088. Hours of operation are Mon-Fri from 11 AM – 5 PM and Sat 10AM – 3PM. Like many locally owned businesses, the owners also state that “if we’re here, we’re open.”
Hoarders beware, the Bomb Shelter is here to stay! If you’re still looking for those last minute gifts, haven’t even started shopping yet or can’t find the right thing for that special someone, consider a stop into the Bomb Shelter. You never know what you might find!
The Bomb Shelter is located at 923 Bank St. in Akron 44305. The hours are Mon-Fri from 11 AM – 5 PM and Sat from 10 AM – 3 PM. For more information, visit their website at TheBombShelterStore.com, or call (330) 258-0088.
[Photo Credit: The Bomb Shelter]
Cool Cleveland correspondent Sean Tuttle is a recent graduate of The University of Akron’s School of Communication with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sports Management. He’s looking forward to providing a fresh perspective on the region and experiencing all Cleveland+ has to offer.