What clients say about The Bomb Shelter in Akron (OH)
Our family has been shopping at the Bomb Shelter for years- we make it a holiday tradition! Every year their staff goes out of the way to offer an awesome shopping experience by answering questions and helping us find unique items. Recently, they dug around and helped us find a missing piece to an item bought years before. Five out of five stars!
This place is awesome! Plenty of different stuff to look at and buy. Not the same old crappy flea market junk, this place has actual antiques and vintage finds for everyone. Will definitely visit again.
My daughter bought a lamp at the Bomb Shelter a few years ago. She was having a difficult time finding lampshades to match the MCM lamp. On a different visit she saw the perfect lampshades in another section in the store. Kevin climbed on a ladder and found the pair. He was so helpful. While I was there I found a 1960s Pyrex for my sister’s collection. And a cast of Mary for my daughter’s collection. There is something for everyone at the Bomb Shelter. And super helpful and knowledgeable staff.
The Bomb Shelter has an identity crisis. Art gallery? Architectural Salvage? Antique mall? Junk shop? Student hang out? Private collection? There are antiques, vintage goods, and retro cool items to be found. However, beware that there are also reproductions passing themselves off as original mixed into the displays (some were honestly labelled as reproductions), and so many items were not for sale which by definition makes it more of a private collection that is on free public display. Parking is very limited but also free. Prices vary wildly from bargain, very reasonable to over-priced based on condition, rarity or being a reproduction. Based on the owner's propensity to respond in a defensive or hostile manner to reviews they do not like I must conclude that the owner is not able to comprehend constructive and accurate feedback in an effort to help. My accurate review, in store observations, and confusing experience stand, and is something that many others have also expressed. The customer is always right and I remain disappointed.
(Based on the owner's reply to my original review I felt compelled to amend my original review and be specific, feedback is a gift.)
I almost hate to review this, because I hate to be responsible for more people going… It's amazing. If you have any interest at all in 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s memorabilia - this is the place. Always new inventory being cycled through, always something worth seeing!
By far the most unique antique store I have ever visited!
You could spend hours walking around and not see everything. While looking at the displays, you forget to look forward and upwards for even more stuff!
Items are organized very well. There are also some very unique items found here as well.
Well worth the visit! I drove 2 hours to check it out and it did not disappoint.
If you love MCM pieces this is the place to go. I stopped in on a road trip by chance and was very happy I made it. They had great light fixtures, furniture, glassware, ephemera, etc. It's kind of in an odd part of town, so don't let that deter you.
This place is one of the greatest stores I have ever visited. It's an antique store, mini museum, and record store all rolled into one.
They have a ton of interesting items both for sale and on display. There were the usual things like cameras, clothes, furniture, but I was not expecting to see multiple Hammond Organs on the sales floor.
I was particularly drawn to the giant record selection, and the prices are some of the best in the area based on my experience. Many of the 1 dollar records are actual grade A artists you want to listen to (just not in the best shape). The other records are very reasonably priced (highest I saw was 25 bucks for an album that typically goes for more).
And the displays they have look great too. The cars were really cool to see and the television wall was interesting as well.
If you are in the area, this is absolutely a store to hit up. So much cool stuff here. It's not in the best area but I still highly recommend it. Great place
I was in search of small toys to upcycle for my jewelry business, and the Bomb Shelter did NOT disappoint! No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll likely find anything you need (and some things you don’t, but would definitely want). Everything was reasonably priced for antiques and the displays were put together so elaborately that I almost felt like I was in an art gallery. Highly recommend coming in and taking in all the cool, weird stuff!
Lived in Akron my whole life a day never have been here. Very cool place. Even if you spent half a day here, you'd still miss this. It is definitely overwhelming to the eyes but 100% worth the stop.
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 to sell items.
This place was so crazy insane with so much stuff. I have some of the stuff at my own house and they had more here and I wanted to buy more leave your money at home and your credit cards cause you’re gonna buy it when you see it cause you had it.
I love this place! Drove all the way from Michigan to check it out, and it was absolutely worth it. Everything felt fairly priced, and there’s so much to see…it’s easy to spend a good amount of time just exploring. I’d definitely come back again!
There were a lot of rooms of perfectly curated collections. Some how when I got to the last room. I was left wanting more. The kitchen collections with the flatware, ceramics, dishes and beer cans was my favorite! I purchased photos from the 40s and or 50s. The prices run from thrift store $1 to vintage shop depending of the quality and rarity of the item.
If you longing to see a hodge-podge of antiques and Americana, "you go" to The Bomb Shelter. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a glowing Krispy Kreme sign, which overlooks a 1980 Yugo Koral SS that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.
As you wind your way through the store, you will be greeted by everything from medical supplies and hardware to brick a brac. I won't spoil your fun by telling you all the things that you will find there.
Most of the items are for sale, and you won't see many of them anywhere else.
Bring your credit card because cool stuff doesn't run cheap. If I had a bigger house, I would probably go nuts on a few things that i've wanted since I was a kid.
It's definitely worth the trip.
Ok. This was a very interesting place. First if you love mid century then stop here because you will be sorry if you miss it. Second it is a little more than just mid century. Weird stuff like a green blob, a yugo car, old tv set up with some actually working. Just go visit. You won’t be disappointed!!
An incredibly cool place to wander around. Could easily spend two hours here looking at the collection and themed areas. Will definitely visit again to check out the stuff I didn't have time for today.
Really cool place if you're into vintage 50s 60s and 70s stuff. I swear we are the coolest generation, had the best bands that wrote stories wrapped around music, had the cool muscle cars, played outside in the neighborhood till dark, and no cell phones or Internet. Took some pictures at the shop that don't really do the place justice, but check their website and I recommend a visit.
Stopped here during our family vacation as it had the highest rating and was the only antique store open on a Sunday. Small store with cool novelty cars and old tvs, but that's pretty much it. The parking is super small, so come early.
I’ve been coming since they opened and just now back for the first time since 2019…what an absolutely amazing shop this has become! So glad to see all the new rooms and the place just thriving. So very worth the visit!
This antique store such a joy to visit. The place is huge and set-up like a museum. The variety of antiques and collectables is incredible. Most of the stock is mid 20th century and leans towards cool and sheik.
The staff is welcoming and helpful.
Plan to spend at least an hour looking around and wear comfortable shoes. You will get in your steps.
I highly recommend a visit.
WOW!!! I believe they have everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink!
Very well organized. So many antiques.
Definitely worth the stop just to browse.
All the items are in very good shape.
There were airplane seats, a dentist chair, an old Scotty camper.... green monster!
If you are in the mood for something vintage, you will find it here!
Loved everything to look at here! It's setup so well with themed areas that are so nicely displayed. I really had no idea what to expect before going in there and I was seriously impressed by all their antiques. And their prices weren't bad at all.
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