There was an electronics store in Tacoma WA, just south of Seattle ( basically one urban area Tacoma to Everett WA ) until a couple years ago. They lost their lease and that spelled the end. This wasn't actually a "surplus store"; it had maybe mostly test equipment and whatever. There was actually a joke - theory that the store was just a venue for the store owner to display his beloved treasures. I was never actually at the store, but for many years i saw his setup at the WA hamfairs. I bought a small Tek scope from him at a hamfest once. So a fellow in the radio club told me he was at this store and he took something up front to ( presumably, possibly ) get a price quote and pay for it. But the store owner saw what was happening and said, "This item is not for sale." I suppose that meant the store owner was happy and proud to just be displaying it. When the boss drifted off to do something else, the cashier clerk up front said, "Wait til G. goes back to the rear of the store, then I'll sell it to you." And so the deed was done, it was sold, and presumably forevermore not remembered and never missed.