Touring Ax-Man Surplus, The Coolest Store In The Galaxy!

[@tubamacmac]

I wish more stores like this still existed!!! These are good not only for creators, tinkerers, and makers, but really good for the planet too!

[@danielmorris7648]

Lol the air conditioning for one day in this store would offset any environmental benefits of keeping all this junk out of the landfill but keep dreaming

[@therianfun]

Luckily, this location does not have air conditioning.

[@BrianDuffie]

Here in Illinois we have a similar store called American Science and Surplus.

[@johndavy3073]

@@BrianDuffie They also have interesting product descriptions their web store. Remember the paper catalog?

[@StonemanRocks]

The one here is called surplus city and there was an even cooler store in Los Alamos called the blackhole where the guy bought mostly surplus from los alamos labs which if you know anything about los alamos …! Ya!

[@kelvin0mql]

I used to frequent Ax Man as an electronics tinkerer in my teen years, late ‘70s. Great to see the iron lung is still there all these decades later!

[@jameysummers1577]

It's like having a Radio Shack, Sears, and a thrift store under one roof. I constantly need parts, and I am tired of waiting for Ebay sellers to ship stuff. This store would be great to have.

[@clownearound5751]

What a cool shop! I can completely understand why you love it so much Gabe. The product signs were fantastic, I don’t think this is the kind of place you can just ‘pop’ into, you’d need to set aside some time to appreciate it. Thank you for sharing this and thank you also to owner and staff. Best wishes from England

[@asn413]

been there. easy to waste hours there. better than a museum :D

[@raccoon874]

@@asn413 then it is NOT a waste of time!!!

[@davidkermes376]

just "popping in" is easy. it's getting back out that is tough! by the way, those drop tanks make wonderful sidecars for motor scooters.

[@Reaperman4711]

2:03 "normal products" -Walking past what appears to be an iron lung...

[@phatboi202]

I was thinking that's what that was too haha

[@teeveeviewerski3381]

I've touched it. :D

[@johnvriezen4696]

It is indeed an iron lung. Seen it many times.

[@Buzzygirl63]

YES! My favorite store in the Cities! Nothing quite like them. I learned how to solder years back by buying random green boards and various electronic components from Ax-Man. I know several teachers who love this store for obvious reasons. They have some wacky stuff but the giant bobblehead J.C. and the iron lung take the cake. I really love the signs the employees make for these items - some pretty clever and funny people work there. I try to stop here several times a year when I'm over Midway-way. :)

[@phatboi202]

So it is an iron lung just randomly in the store 😅😹

[@ryanfrogz]

I really need to go back there. One of my greatest regrets in life is not buying the $10 dummy grenade. “I’ll never need it” said the fool, unaware of how much he truly did...

[@gannas42]

Fantastic advocacy for my favorite local store! Thanks for sharing this gem with your community. Always great to see new opportunities for locally-owned businesses. 🎉

[@robertreynolds1044]

I first visited AxMan about 1975 and it blew my 14 year old nerd mind. The descriptions are stuff of legend. And all the Vegas Circus-Circus hats are there and they even had gyroscopic guidance system for the X-15!My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message and I tell everyone about the coolest store in the world!

[@lazerblade2]

Some guy once came into the Oklahoma City subreddit asking where all the electronics surplus stores were and we were like "what the heck are you talking about?" He found out that day that the place he was coming from had kind of a unique thing. I wish we had one here too, buddy.

[@supergeeky7529]

Born and raised Minnesotan and Ax Man is literally the coolest store ever!

[@davidholmgren659]

My old man was an amateur radio operator and he built his own radios... And I used to go with him all the time to get parts. The store is wonderful. Thanks for the lovely reminder of a place I need to visit soon! Great video!

[@rogerwa123]

I'm 57 and my parents were surplus junkies. Some of my earliest memories are of picking through this store. That torpedo has been there that long. We used to do the circuit of Axman, Crazy Louies on lake street and then Banks in Mpls. My wife doesn't get it and thinks we were crazy.

[@gardenfork]

THAT is a dangerous store. Excellent tour Gabe. - Eric.

[@DNTMEE]

I never thought I'd have a reason to make a road trip to St Paul. Now I do. Planning commencing ...

[@chicagorobb3956]

Loved by Ax-man. They called American Science the “clean version” of them

[@thewisecracker-rq1pu]

I've been a customer since 1980! Love it! It's been awhile since I've been there but I see they still have the iron lung! LoL! The sign at 4:45 of a guy "riding the white horse" that is hanging on a bin full of vials is hilarious! That's half the fun of going there, reading all the kewl/funny signs!

[@originaldcjensen]

I can confirm that Ax-Man has not changed much in 40 years since I spent hours in there with my brother Don. I also miss the one in Bloomington.

[@earthstewardude]

Where did you live when you went there? I lived on LaFond Ave. and Albert.

[@smarqua2]

Were they always mask cultists?

[@JendrossekSip]

Great tour, reminds me of stores back in the days or places like a harbour. I have a small surplus store that sells electronics, radio parts, antenna's fishing gear, camping and boating. Cool places to go in for one small part and come out with three new projects.

[@busterhyman103]

Slow down while scanning ( panning ) just in case we out here are interested in more than a colorful blur. But we love everything you do. ( south Florida )

[@Top-Code]

Surplus stores are just amazing, loads of random stuff, loads of cool stuff, loads of everything

[@owenminor]

This is so COOL! I am a transplant from Tacoma,WA and this looks like the surplus store I had back there. Mil surplus. Weird electronics. All my "Robot needs". I'll be making a trek to the stores soon, from Duluth!

[@thomasfrye8996]

I am so glad KZbin suggested this video. New subscriber

[@AlanHunt-g1f]

I first shopped at axman in 1970 and went there at least once a week. Always something great there. I no longer live in the Twin Cities and am glad to hear that they are alive and well. A must see if you are in town.

[@brettsalter3300]

Everything did indeed look like it had the potential to be VERY interesting! Sadly the entire shop sans when you stopped and showed the sign tags, and the single moment you stayed still on the old studio camera, was a complete (and very frustrating ) blur. A few static shots would tell a much more intricate story. This suggestion is given in the spirit of wanting to see more of what you are witnessing, because it truly does seem very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@thadjaszek]

That is an amazing store! Reminds me a bit of the old, dearly departed Building #19 stores in eastern MA, but with more of a tech/hardware/"other" focus. Thanks for sharing this!

[@chrissharp7204]

Or Slags in worcester, ma.

[@phatboi202]

I've been watching the channel for maybe a month or two. Yeah this is the kind of place I need near me in the UK. Edit: also I need the "be easy on jeezy" Jesus statue. Made me proper giggle for some reason. 2nd edit: the made up signs are brilliant!

[@davoskerrith1864]

What an absolutely awesome place, thanks for taking the time to show us, I've been super curious since I started watching your videos.

[@fayvis]

I moved away from MN two years ago, and this place is the thing I miss the most by far. If I could've packed one of these up and brought it with me, I would have!!!

[@CandyGramForMongo_]

Best video ever! If only this place was in my town.

[@tonyyarbray]

love that store and I miss them... I'm an old guy I remember when it seemed like there was at least one place like this in any city where ever we lived growing up...I want to go there just to browse that store...also love the name of your channel I've said that a million times.

[@lars_of_the_north]

I miss this place. My entire life is stopping for the length of this video.

[@alec4672]

My grandfather was a mortician and when I was younger we'd frequently go to the twin cities for supplies. One of our fun stops while we were there was Ax Man and of course White Castle. I'm very happy to see it's alive and well!! Can't wait to get back down there some time again.

[@RNMSC]

Remember to stop by White Castle while your in town. There are a few to select from, or stop at all of them, if you have a week or two to spend in town.

[@ave14401]

I wish we had more stores like this in the US! I’ve been in Asia for a couple weeks and can tell you every city I’ve been to has not just a store but entire MALLS like this. Even found several with Raspberry Pis in stock! Granted there’s a little less personality in the signs though (that I could read at least)

[@SpruceHouse]

This is the better goodwill

[@Scodiddly]

Very cool! Reminds me a lot of American Science and Surplus in Chicago. Even the signs… wouldn’t be surprised if some folks had worked at both.

[@timbober1]

The original St. Paul location, I most recently have been to the St Louis Park store. I didn’t know there are three stores and I live here. I can testify Ax Man is a Twin Cities gem.

[@RNMSC]

There was a store in Crystal, which is only about 3 miles from where I'm at now, but they closed that location the better part of a decade ago. If I'm not mistaken, the three locations now are the original St. Paul location, St. Louis Park, and a store in Fridley. Any one of them may work out as the best place to go for fresh ideas and to lose all the change in your pockets. Personally I suggest leaving the credit and debit cards at home, or you may just come home with a much tighter monthly budget for a while. They do accept most major credit cards, or did when I was last there, but not so much on checks.

[@CruedEP]

Really hard to have something like this anymore due to commercial real estate investment by large portfolio holders. This isn't just a local treasure; this is a national treasure.

[@earthstewardude]

I lived just 5 blocks away from this store in 1970 ! I would shovel people's sidewalks so I had money to go shopping at Axman's ! What a delight just to walk through that place.

[@oruwatching]

I'm from Mpls and moved to VA. I completely forgot about AXE MAN. I used to go there all the time. Thanks for the memory.

[@DadofScience]

Very jealous! What a resource to have at hand. Thanks for the tour.

[@donhenry7930]

I have lived in or around Saint Paul my entire life and love this store. I remember they used to have a radio station you could tune in when you are nearby not sure if they still do though.

[@saveitforparts]

I didn't know about the radio station! Not sure if that's still a thing. I remember Cloquet used to have a techno pirate station, which was the only thing that made the drive to Duluth tolerable 😂

[@fullraph]

Wow! Almost 100k subs! What a milestone

[@trueKENTUCKY]

Good place to get a PS5 in a few decades

[@FridayHouseXYZ]

Never in my life have I had a need to know about something this awesome, and never knew it until I saw it! My next vacation has chosen it's self.

[@electricalguy]

I dearly wish this store was where I live, my free time would never be empty again. 😂 As a studying electrical engineer the electrical aisle made me want to fly all the way to Minnesota just to look around. Will definitely look at there online store. Thank you for the tour.

[@andy1845c]

This place played a role in sparking my interest in electricity and electronics as a kid. Ended up as a career path later in life.

[@jizmoglass4202]

I love that store. only been there a handful of times. when I was younger. But time's I'll never forget. My father has a saying, " If we don't have it , Ax-man does." I remember the dude on the wall with the parachute. I'm a military surplus nerd. Cheers from Faribault. You should do a sub meeting in the parking lot. I'll bring cold beverages and a grill and hot dogs. 😉🤣👍

[@clockworkspiral]

Wow!! It reminds us of the American Science & Surplus location near us, even down to the creativity of the signs and stuff! This place seems way more densely stocked though, I'm suuuuper jealous now, wow.

[@itwasrightthere]

Saving to watch later. I always enjoy going there. Thanks for publishing this one.

[@vitameat]

Wonderful video. St. Louis used to have Friedman's Railroad Salvage, which would be a sort of companion store to this. It specialized in stuff from railfreight (yes, it did fall or got dented on a train) and was more of a furniture, bedding and bulk grocery store with great deals on unlikely stuff. If you could have put this and Friedman's together, it would have been the ultimate closeout store.

[@michaellichter4091]

Wow, I think I'm in paradise at Ax-Man, what an amazing selection of great stuff! You're sure to find what you need for any DIY project. Thank you for taking us along, Ax-Man is exactly the kind of store I've always dreamed of. Seeing this, Ax-Man is doing something for the environment too. The items can be reused instead of being thrown away, which reduces waste and avoids the need for new production, saving CO2. It's actually a very intelligent system. 🥰🤗👍

[@patchvonbraun]

Thanks so much for this. Reminds me very much of "Active Surplus". A Toronto institution that was around for decades--indeed even when I was 10 (I'm 60 now) "Active Surplus" was an institution. They closed down over a decade ago now, mostly because the grandkids had no interest in running a surplus store in downtown Toronto. Much of their inventory was picked-up by "A1 Electronics" in the suburbs of Toronto. A1 is also an "Aladins Cave" type place, although when it first started, it was a very small store mere blocks from my highschool, selling mostly-new electronics bits and pieces for the hobby crowd.

[@JRatLSE]

I was thinking the exact same thing. This video makes me feel so sad for what we lost when Active Surplus shut down 😢 Queen West is so bougie these days, it's almost impossible to imagine that such a wacky and wonderful store once stood there!

[@saveitforparts]

I was just replying to some other comments saying I've been to Active Surplus years ago! I remember it was fun, but I couldn't buy much since I was taking the bus back to Minnesota.

[@patchvonbraun]

@@saveitforparts There were a number of electronics surplus places in Toronto "back in the day". Active Surplus was the pinnacle, but there were others. I remember Globe Electronics and a couple of others. Toronto is lucky that it still has A1 Electronics--the guy who runs it is getting older, and I don't think his kids want to run the place. Where I live, in a small town near Ottawa, there used to be "W.J. Ford Enterprises". His son took it over for a few years, but eventually, he sold up and moved on.

[@NebukedNezzer]

I have shopped at Ax-Man for 60 years(or nearly that long). ALWAYS a fun place for interesting stuff.

[@TheLexluthier]

I go to Ax Man all the time. I've bought tons of stuff there that you can't find anywhere anymore. There used to be Crazy Louies down the street near Lexington, but they closed decades ago. There are not many places like this left around the USA anymore. There used to be an amazing electronics surplus store in Colorado Springs that I went to a lot, but they shut their doors a couple years ago.

[@m1geo]

This store would cost me so much if I lived near it. The UK needs a place like this!

[@intentionally-blank]

I wish you all could have experienced Ax-Man in the 70's. It was a time when the Twin Cities had numerous electronic manufacturers and excess seemed to flow to the Ax-Man. I recall Honeywell, Remington-Rand, Burroughs and Control Data for a few. What was Control Data, you ask? More than electronics it seemed the Twin Cities was home to many other manufacturers too as I recall some of those items I purchased over the years. Some oddities for sure. It was a time of more military excess as well. Even people that aren't 'into' this kind of shopping can lose track of an hour in Ax-man poking around finding things they just must have. Thanks for the memories!

[@InfernalWheel]

This place reminds me of American Science & Surplus back in Milwaukee, Wi. I will def have to check this place out as soon as I can.

[@soundmannate2000]

Yay! I have been waiting for this video! Now I have to plan a trip to Ax-Man.

[@asdf9890]

I love shops like that, never know what you’ll find.

[@matyasxfulop]

Awesome tour. Seems like and awesome store! If anybody is around Chicagoland, American Science & Surplus is our equivalent and highly recommended.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Saw those inert bombs when you passed by them and thought "man that's the first thing I'd pick up if I were there". I could definitely use those on my plane as auxiliary ferry tanks.

[@mattparker9726]

SAVED SELLER ON EBAY! Thanks so much, sorry for all the caps, so excited!

[@ex0planet765]

Absolutely love this store, just a giant place of ‘miscellaneous’ and so many weirdly cool things. It’s hard trying not to buy up the whole store lol

[@treinenliefde]

This is awesome! You don't have stores like this in the Netherlands. Really cool to see.

[@neutrongarbage]

I can't wait to visit this place, it looks like my basement!

[@PaulKohlmeier]

When we go to the cities it's a must stop just to browse the items!

[@terenceokane]

Great vid! Looked like a normal thrift shop for like 10 seconds and then started getting awesome! Been loving the channel. Before I even saw a video here I knew I'd love the channel just by the name.

[@Thats_Cool_Jack]

its like goodwill on steroids. there used to be more electronics dedicated goodwills but they have slowly converted to more clothes and regular stuff

[@donloughrey1615]

Love the place, we go there often. It's a tinkerers paradise. My son used to go there with his boys, he would give them each five bucks and let them loose. They had a blast.

[@greenmirror5555]

You could prolly get a good video out of that bosch elect motor part sign at 6:10 along with the Ax-Man sign! Ax-Man art would prolly make great T-Shirts too. Thanks for the video!

[@flexfontaine]

I'm an alumnus and 40 year shopper, popped in today for a few things and they told me about this video. I'm a little hurt that none of my signs made it in, but I subscribed anyway ; )

[@axmanemployees8409]

Way cool!!

[@flexfontaine]

@@axmanemployees8409 teeheeheee

[@ABetterRed]

went to the Saint Louis Park location this saturday. Always a great trip for my crafting

[@crimet0ad]

I just went to Ax-Man for the first time last summer! I got really excited seeing this thumbnail as that store and you as a person seem like a match made in heaven!

[@saveitforparts]

This is where I find a lot of the stuff that I don't just dumpster dive 😂

[@petewright2283]

Wow!!! So wish we had something like that here in the UK. Thank you for showing us around. Even better with the eBay link and they do ship across the pond.

[@SABISHII_MUSHI]

I love going to their stores. Need a coffee mug from a long dead company, a prototype board for who knows what, a bikini girl poster from the 80s, or some other wtf item? This is the place for you. One of the best things is the tags they put on the items...trying to guess what it is.... Anytime my brother comes to MN to visit it is a must stop place for us to go to.

[@peepopalaber]

Now i am even more envious. I NEED such a Store here in Germany.

[@earthstewardude]

I went there in 1970 when I was just 10 years old.

[@charlesnelson619]

There used to be more surplus stores around the area. Minneapolis had Acme electronics. St. Paul had Crazy Louies ( near Ax-man ) - I think they took him away in a straight jacket they had in the store.🤣

[@KeritechElectronics]

Lovely and absolutely chaotic place. I once saw a video on that, not sure who it was (EEVBlog?). Another rabbit hole... 4:00 the note on replacing the SCR with a transistor doesn't hold water, it doesn't latch. 4:11 that was creative, made my day! 8:25 maybe make old school bomb duds out of them? A little Little Boy... They've been around only for 25 years? I thought that'd go well into the '70s :)

[@axmanemployees8409]

We've been in this location for about 60 years. The guys at the brewery have been shopping here for 25 years or so.

[@KeritechElectronics]

@@axmanemployees8409 hey, thanks for the answer! Nice to know that - and what a goldmine of lovely vintage electronics you have :). Perfect for the thermionic emission nerds like me.

[@Itsgone99]

Now, THIS is what I call KZbin!

[@stealthypirate318]

i love stores like this. I knew I'd be a fan when you stepped through the door

[@RobbsHomemadeLife]

What a cool store. Thanks so much for doing the review.

[@workshop94]

Every time I lose a part I’ve been stashing, ax-man gains another product 😂 I would love to see more of these stores around the country! Can’t wait to visit!

[@mgehrum]

Great videos !!! Keep up the great work !!! I should let you through my garage and basement !!!

[@stuartstephens]

I've been shopping there for over 40 years. They have a lot of great stuff.

[@SonOfSofaman]

Agreed. Ax-Man is the coolest store In the galaxy! It is maker/tinkerer/hobbyist heaven and we're lucky to have them in the Twin Cities.

[@AKkachie]

Wish I knew about this place and this channel when I was there recently, would’ve loved to meet you. Love your content and love your vibe man! Cool what you do with your surplus!

[@raccoon874]

*these places are INVENTORY NIGHTMARES!!*

[@axmanemployees8409]

We don't use the "I" word around here. Dollar in the cuss jar Raccoon!!

[@raccoon874]

@@axmanemployees8409 I'll send you a twenty for future sins.

[@andy1845c]

I grew up going here. Haven't been there in years. I need to stop in next time I am in St. Paul!

[@didsomebodysaydmt8193]

4:45,Was that John Delorean riding a white horse? That's funny, that's exactly what those bottles were for.

[@tcs007]

I'm subbing just for the lambchops. Those things are MAGNIFICENT!!

[@michaelallen185]

Dude! You've gotta get that equipment on the top left of the first electronics shelf you record around 0:55 So many cool things you can do with that!

[@neolexington]

Keewenaw brewing! 👌Thanks for the video.

[@henryescat1104]

I would love to see another video of more of the stuff there..

[@jacklandismcgowan1413]

Nice…thanks for showcasing Ax-Man 👍👍👍🍺🍺🍺😎

[@djsmudgeschannel220]

What a fantastic store. You're very lucky it's there for you. Thanks for letting us know about it and for bringing their website and ebay store to our attention.

[@techtonictim]

An amazing Aladdins cave of cool ‘stuff’ wish they expanded to the UK !! great video 👌👍

[@petergreenwald9639]

I have enjoyed cooking for years. Long ago I bought a mortar and pestle from another Ax Man location and is gets used often to grind herbs and spices. I never would have bought one if I hadn't found it snooping around the Ax Man in Fridley.

[@keithfulkerson]

That place looks amazing.

[@DavidGalich77]

Good find. Thx for the vid and great commentary.

[@jimturpin]

I have been working hard to clean out my junk hoard, so I was relieved to find their stores are nowhere near Dallas, or I would be in there every day finding something I absolutely can't live without. ;)

[@RNMSC]

You've gone into your navigation system and eliminated I35 as an acceptable route to anywhere, right? It's a straight shot up, and I know there are a lot of people up here that would regularly get off work on Friday, drive down to Dallas, spend Saturday morning shopping some Hamfest like parking lot for electronics and drive back up to sleep through Sunday...

[@ImpetuouslyInsane]

So, this is like the American Science and Surplus stores of Chicago? Neat!