The Mystery Box Warehouse — Local services in Ranlo

"One man's trash is another man's treasure." -English proverb

I've been to an "Amazon returns" shop but this is the first time I've been to anything like this. It's not quite a thrift shop and it's not quite a used good store. It's reusing and recycling and shopping and a flea market and just interesting enough that you need to check it out if you're near Gastonia.

Instead of hauling grabage to a landfill, the owners of the Mystery Box takes stuff from estate sales and home clearances and abandoned storage units and brings it here to be sold. But instead of paying for stuff by the piece, customers pay an entrance fee and can literally walk out with whatever they can carry. Yes, if you can carry it over the line by yourself, it's yours.

My daughter read about this concept and we stopped in to check it out. First, the entrance fee is cash only. (They might be encouraged to accept a Venmo or Zelle payment but the cell coverage here is not great.) Second, you need to bring your own bags, backpacks and purses for carrying.

Look through it all. I found some boxes of surgical gloves (still sealed!), my daughter found a neat glass as a gift, I grabbed up an inkjet printer cartridge, and more interesting stuff. I saw a guy hauling out an pneumatic air cylinder and they had a stack of toilet seat lids (still in boxes) and tools and toys and paints and paintings and lots and lots of junk.

Remember that once you're in, whatever you can carry out is yours. So it might be junk now or it might end up being...

My wife , daughter, and I visited for the first time in forever the Mystery Box Warehouse ! You enter in with no clue as to what treasure’s await you. Entrance fee twenty dollars then you go shop ,and whatever you can carry out the door is yours for the twenty dollars fee you paid at the beginning! They have a free section that is worth looking through ! Also there is a section to the left after you enter the front door of items you can straight out buy . They will assist you for twenty dollars fee to take the heavy items ( furniture, appliances etc ) if you can’t carry it out ! They want you to leave with some treasure’s and happy offering you coupons or items at the front door to make you feel like you’re not walking away with nothing. Look at it this way you can take some bags fill them up , and make a donation to your Church, Good Will , Salvation Army , or the charity of your choice ,friend or neighbor! If you don’t find a treasure for yourself then maybe give a treasure to someone else ! So go check them out whether you find a treasure or give a treasure to one you love it’s an adventure you will not want to miss...

For photographers, the Mystery Box Warehouse in Gastonia is a great source for unique props! It's incredible how many one-of-a-kind treasures can be found and incorporated into shoots for just $20, adding character and a distinctive flair that is hard to find elsewhere. Exploring the warehouse and discovering items from estate cleanouts, home clearances, and abandoned storage units is part of the fun. Vintage furniture pieces add a classic backdrop, while smaller items like old cameras or dishes tell a story or even intriguing textures and patterns. This warehouse has seriously elevated photography. The staff is friendly and helpful, making the experience enjoyable. It's an affordable and sustainable way to source props, and it definitely sparks creativity. The Mystery Box Warehouse is a must-visit for any photographer looking for unique pieces that are...