I live in Dayton, and I LOVE this place. You're right... there's no words to really describe the experience of getting lost in there just wandering the aisles.
I've been going to Mendelson's off and on since the eighties. Back then my friends and I thought of it as being like this strange electronics attic with amazing things in it. Still neat. 73, KD8ZIB.
If I ever won the Powerball, I would like to buy a place like that and call it my own. I wouldn't have to worry if it was profitable or not I would just keep it open.
I used to go to Mendelson's when they were out on Linden Ave. But I also went to Hamvention with my Dad when I was very young and it was still at the Biltmore Hotel.
Just came back to relive the experience of Menselsons. I came here a couple times over a decade ago. Decided to search the news for any recent info on the store closing, and just a few hours ago dayton news is reporting that the property has been sold. It's a shame to see this amazing place get turned into apartments. I doubt there will every be anything like it again.
That place looks freakin AWESOME! I’d be like a kid in a candy store. In the SF Bay Area we had 2 places like that (but much smaller). Weird Stuff Warehouse & HSC. Both of which are now unfortunately closed.
It's unfortunate that they only have some of their inventory online. If they do sell the place my guess would be that a majority of it would be liquidated online to help reduce the amount of inventory. It is cool that some of these places still exist. I have a local electronics dealer that used to be a radioshack and they went and purchased tons of old stock from all the radioshacks going out of business in the area. So it is nice to know they are there when I need something I no longer have stock of in the workshop.
Josh, you have to see my upcoming video about Skycraft electronic surplus in Orlando, when you come to Hamcation you have to go there... They are moving to a larger building soon but there is so many things there you could build whatever you want.
I live in Dayton. That place has been open for decades. I remember going in there as a kid with my dad. It was like going into a museum. I can only remember buying one or two things. That's what most people tell me. They just go in to look. I'm not sure how they have stayed open all these years.
When I was able to attend Hamvention Mendelson's tents in the flea market was always one of my first stops. They have so much stuff. Never been to there warehouse.
I could spend an entire day looking around in there. I've considered going to the Dayton Hamvention mainly to go there. Wouldn't you know they plan to sell out and possibly close.
Hi Josh. Wow! I would have loved to fit this into my Dayton trip and squeeze one more awesome adventure into my Hamvention video over on my RU-vid channel. Maybe they’ll still be around next year. I’m a new ham just starting my journey and enjoy your enthusiasm for the hobby! I was hoping to find you at Hamvention to say Hi but never saw you. 😩 Those crowds were something else. Glad to see so much excitement around a ham radio event!
Thanks for the comment, I appreciate you looking out for me. We'll make it work next year. Follow me our Twitter or join the Discord to keep in touch too!
Sandy Mendelson, owner of the iconic, quirky liquidation outlet, died July 3, 2021, five days shy of turning 78. Building was sold and stock was liquidated in auction.
I wish I was stupid rich, I’d own that place! I’ve just got to get there before it’s too late! I’ve bought from them a lot over the years at Dayton Hamvention, have missed them not coming to the fair grounds!
we have a store like that in the Twin Cities called "Ax-Man Surplus" (the parts & components are of course my favorite sections)... Mendelson looks like someone fed vitamins and fertilizer to Ax-Man for about 2 eons and then cloned it 12 times! Realistically I won't get to Dayton before it closes, but those that do please enjoy a little extra for me :)
Wow I missed this place; is the place FOR parts. I wish that i had more time to spend there; I drove to Dayton and then had to meet my wife in Vegas (I live north of Seattle). On my bucket list now. HAMVENTION WAS FANTASTIC. 73 KB7TIX
A place like that would almost need to be ran like a miniature version of Amazon to be profitable today. It's already set up kind of like an online retailer. Hopefully he can find a buyer.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Yup, and from what you said it sounds like their either their going to liquidate or sell the business. Until I watched you're video, I had no idea of what a massive amount of inventory they had there, and 80.000 square feet of space to put it in !
I have heard of that place but never been. I live an hour away. I missed Hamvention as I am in AK. I'm going to have to try to make it up the Mendelsons
That's interesting, I live in Alaska but as a teenager growing up in the 60's I was building short wave radios, living in Hamilton OH. Wish I had known about it then.
