The thrill of the hunt: 1 Emporium is full of random stuff you never knew you needed

I had no trouble at all finding the place on Monroe Road because, true to its word, 1 Emporium is exactly as advertised on the card…

The store is much bigger than its inventory, which is sourced from multiple different vendors. Any idea where products you return to a store that can’t be resold (due to damaged packaging or a number of other factors) end up? Places like this.

The cashier, whose name is Reality for real, explained to me they’re basically “everything but cosmetics” and they get new shipments all the time. I mention I’m always on the hunt for furniture and she says a new truckload is coming in on Friday. My deal hunter radar is officially on.

This kind of treasure hunt shopping style doesn’t appeal to most people, but my fellow consigners and garage salers who love the thrill of a good surprising find can relate. Rather than waste hours searching for specific items I know I want, I keep my shopping standards low and exploratory until I happen upon a lucky find I didn’t even know I needed. It’s more fun that way. Plus, getting what you want requires knowing what you want and I rarely know. (This is perhaps a metaphor for my whole entire life that a therapist is going to have to deal with one day.)

Without visiting 1 Emporium, how would I have ever known about this handheld disinfecting steamer or a bloomin’ onion maker? It’s all about the chase, my friends.

Like any hodgepodge store, there’s a mix of treasure and trash depending on who’s looking. I was pretty impressed by the stand-up paddleboard, vacuum cleaners and furniture. One side table (identical to items I’ve been eyeing at Home Goods) was marked $40 (down from $90).

I’m not saying it’s for everybody, but if you’re down for the hunt, add 1 Emporium to your list.