The Bomb Shelter — Local services in Akron

I stopped by The Bomb Shelter in Akron recently, a retro superstore tucked away at 923 Bank Street. This spot’s been around since 2011, and it’s easy to see why it’s built a following. Housed in a sprawling 20,000-square-foot warehouse, it’s packed with vintage finds from the 1950s to the 1980s—think mid-century furniture, old-school clothing, and quirky housewares that feel like a time capsule from decades past.

The vibe is laid-back and unpretentious. It’s not a polished boutique—more like a treasure hunt in an organized chaos of nostalgia. The layout’s split into themed sections, from a military corner with old uniforms to a hardware area with salvaged tools and fixtures. There’s even a vintage clothing boutique with pieces that could fit a costume party or a serious collector’s wardrobe. Everything’s arranged well enough to browse comfortably, and the place stays clean despite its size.

The staff were friendly and hands-off, letting me wander at my own pace but stepping in when I needed help reaching a high shelf. Prices lean a bit higher than your average thrift store—think $20 for a cool old shirt or $100-plus for a solid furniture piece—but it’s clear they’re curating quality stuff, not just random junk. I snagged a set of funky 1970s glassware that’s already a conversation starter at home.

Parking’s tight in the small lot, so plan accordingly, and they take cash or card, which is convenient. There’s one restroom if you ask for the key, but don’t expect frills—this place is all about the goods, not the amenities. It’s open Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m., giving you decent windows to visit.

If you’re into retro vibes or just want something unique, The Bomb Shelter’s worth the trip. It’s not for everyone—casual shoppers might find it overwhelming—but for anyone chasing a blast from the past, it delivers. I’ll probably swing by again next time...

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend selling to them. They were difficult to get in touch with and not very friendly. They asked me to email some pictures which I did and I kept trying to get in touch with them and finally they agreed to come look at stuff from my Aunts estate who had passed away. They gathered items of interest into a pile (pictured below) but then wouldn’t make me an offer. They also expressed interest in one item which had not been included in the original pictures and I told them that it was reserved for a different purpose. I don’t think they liked that. They asked me what I wanted for the items they had gathered together and I went ahead and suggested a price for those items (pictured below) which I felt was a pretty reasonable starting point ($100) and they wouldn’t talk to me or make me an offer/discuss it. I asked them several times what their offer was. They just Walked away to get in their truck and left. Not a huge deal to me although I don’t understand why two Guys would drive a truck all the way down and then go home without anything at all. I understand they want to buy things really cheap because they are reselling and I’m totally okay with that but if you won’t even negotiate or have a discussion to try to agree on a price that seems pretty pathetic in my opinion.Thankfully, I reached out to another business in the Hartville area who resells these types of items and they came and purchased a much much larger pile of things that ended up being over $250. They were very easy to work and negotiate with as I had hoped the bomb shelter would be. I’m sure they have a very cool store and it may be a great place to shop, I just wouldn’t recommend getting in touch with them...

Upon first entry it's like a museum and I'm sure its not always like this but after entering I was amazed by all the stuff, shortly into the visit tho I felt as tho I was being followed around by either an employee or owner I'm not sure but made me feel as I intended on taking something so they needed to watch me which I was not there to do. Continuing on tho I looked around and again was stopped told that part of the store was closed and he was like 24hr security because he lived there .lol Moving forward in the visit as I was making my way to the door I was intercepted by a woman who well basically said if I wasn't with the ladies checking out that it was time to go and at this point it was only 4:50 closing time is 5 beside the point I was a customer that won't be returning. It was my first time there and my last. Cool stuff, very...