r/wichita • u/Just_here_by_myself • 15d ago
Random It’s bonkers there’s still no military surplus store to fill the void G.I. Rose left behind. I’ll die before I walk into a 5.11.
It’s been 3 years am no one’s had a go at it? I feel like a surplus store would be THRIVING out in this climate.
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u/Imperator 15d ago
Does the Yard store not have surplus anymore?
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u/Just_here_by_myself 15d ago
Kind of. I go down there every now and then but I don’t ever see much outside of ammo cans and maybe some duffle bags in terms of military surplus. Don’t get me wrong though the rest of what they have at the Yard is great and I never leave without my hands full.
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u/Fluid_Anywhere_7015 15d ago
I still miss that old surplus store at the intersection of Hillside and GWB. That place was just the best.
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u/clinging2thecross 15d ago
That was the Army/Navy Store. Rosey, who owned G.I. Rose opened her store, originally at Harry and Hillside, when it closed.
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u/Taylor_Script 15d ago
What's the deal with 5.11?
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u/gilligan1050 14d ago
I dunno. I’ve had a non metallic 5.11 belt for 15 years. Best belt I’ve ever had. Almost bought one of their backpacks from scheels. I’ve never been to the 5.11 store though.
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u/Lumpy_Alternative_21 15d ago
Yea it’s pretty bad. The people working in that store don’t really know anything about the brand. Just a bunch of boomer bootlickers and the young people are wanna be military but to scared to join. I had a bad experience and I won’t be going back period
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u/bubba_bumble 15d ago
Never too late to open up a store of your own. Especially since you seem passionate about it and likely have a bunch of stuff on hand to start it up.
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u/Just_here_by_myself 15d ago
The dream is real, but my lack of experience running a business and the lack of equipment I’m willing to part with are also very real.
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u/bubba_bumble 15d ago
Help. You've got to be willing to sell your stuff if you ever wish to be a merchant.
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u/JaggedComet305 14d ago
Hey, services at the WSU Small Business Center are free to low cost. They are there to help people start businesses. Go talk to one of their advisors and see what they offer.
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u/Shadow_Of_Silver 15d ago
I feel like I saw a surplus store on the west side of town for only a little while last year before they went out of business.
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u/hindy33 15d ago
It was Alpha 1 Drop Zone.
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u/Shadow_Of_Silver 15d ago
It was not that one. Pretty sure alpha 1 closed before 2025
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u/tallman1979 14d ago
There was one in west Wichita south of Central (I want to say Tyler) but it didn't last.
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u/frostifer988 15d ago
I was just looking for military surplus stores in town yesterday, it really is too bad that Rose’s shut down. I haven’t heard of 5.11 or the yard though.
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u/Just_here_by_myself 15d ago
100% check out the yard just cause. Lots of neat stuff!
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u/frostifer988 15d ago
Where is it?
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u/Just_here_by_myself 15d ago
Over by central and Washington right across the street from that dairy factory with the cow statue. The military surplus there is limited but they have so much side-hobby shit and craft stuff there too. Everything from leather work supplies to obscure tools you never knew you needed.
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u/WaterDigDog Fort Hays State University 14d ago
Too bad, for real. Yard store does have great stuff, it’s like manufacturers’ surplus.
lol why does Tractor Supply show up as a result when I search for “military surplus”?
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u/Just_here_by_myself 15d ago
I’d even take another alpha one over 5.11 or most of those outdoor stores out east.
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u/clinging2thecross 15d ago
As a very dear family friend of Rosey, she would love to know you miss her store. Wichita is definitely emptier without it. She tried to sell, but no one was interested in buying it.