On Tuesdays, the heavy roll-up doors at the University of Washington Plant Services Building slide open at 10 A.M. sharp. A pack of curious (and hopeful) shoppers surge forward. There’s a buzz in the air as people rush the aisles in their hunt for unknown treasures.
It’s the UW Surplus store, and it’s a hidden gem for bargain hunters.
I have stood in this Tuesday scrum before. Eager thrifters vie for the best finds and deals. Some are on a specific mission while others hunt for that one odd item they never knew they needed. It makes for an entertaining scavenger hunt.
The inventory originates from surplus items spread across all UW departments and medical facilities. When a department doesn’t need something anymore, they pack it up and send it over to the surplus store. With a campus as large as the University of Washington, the store stays busy all week sorting and logging in new items that will end up on a shelf, tucked into an overflowing bin, or parked on the concrete floor…