Remembering Academy Surplus

My kids wonder why I sometimes call Academy "Academy Surplus."
Back in the day, Academy Surplus on I-35 had rows and rows of interesting junk falling out of bins and into the narrow aisles. No telling what you might come out of there with.
Googling around, I found this picture from 1973, when they were building the upper deck on the "Interstate" as we called it.

I like the price of gas at 26.9/gallon.
Anyone else remember this place?

 

Remember it well. Bought camping gear there (tent, Coleman stove, etc) while I was at UT in late 80s for our excursions down the road to New Braunfels—we camped regularly on River Road. I always liked Academy. It was a little ‘raw’ for lack of a better word, not a slick retail experience but it wasn’t trying to be fancy. That was part of its overall charm, I think.

 

I love pictures like what you posted above. Thanks. I was not in Austin then, not even born, but I still like them.

 

Awesome. So it looks like that gas station is right where the Sears Automotive Repair Shop is today.

 

That gas station is Sears. The Sears at Hancock Center used to sell gasoline.

 

Great pic, I remember it well.

 

Oh man, I grew up walking distance to the original Academy.

They had all that great stuff in the store, I remember buying all sorts of different unit and army patches for like a nickel each.

One thing I remember was the racks of M-1 rifles they had for sale pretty cheap. I always kinda wish I had bought one.

Also, they used to stack military surplus stuff behind the store. Easy pickings (shame on us, right? ). My friends and I all had the greatest stock of "army stuff" (packs, web belts, canteens, helmets, ammo boxes, shovels, etc) when we were kids.

 

Dang loop, I figgered you were older than that. In '80 I was buying fierce looking shirts discarded by the TYC guards there as well as machetes for cutting "boo" for the inane frat party crap.

We still have quite a few military surplus stores in SA, but...Academy will always have my heart.

 

Didn't the original Golfsmith used to be over there too, before they built the huge complex at I-35/Braker?

I never went to that Academy, but we always went to the one on Burnet Road (near the old Putt-Putt) that had those really steep ramps going up to the second floor. That building is now a shopping center.

 

Actually, they're all "Interstates"; we used to call that one "Interregional."

 

You are so right, PMG, that is what my parents would call it. In fact, according to Wikipedia--(oh well)-- "In Austin, Interstate 35 is named Interregional Highway." Never really knew that. I notice that lots of Austin businesses on I-35 do list their addresses that way.

 

"Fishing poles, BB guns, socks, tents, rain gear, sleeping bags, rifles and knives" and on and on. Also: "Closed Saturday so we can be open Sunday."

 

Also "golf clubs and balls." The kid that did that ad must be in his 30s by now.

 

Ran across an old piece of camping gear in my garage the other day with an "Academy Surplus" price tag on the box. It was a great place and everyone I know who camps, fishes, or hunts remembers the original store fondly.

 

They've become bright, antiseptic, soulless barns now.

 

"the one on Burnet Road (near the old Putt-Putt) that had those really steep ramps going up to the second floor"

Those ramps were cool. The downstairs always seemed overcrowsed and stuffed with clothing. Was there stuff hanging from the ceiling, canoes?

"Fishing poles, BB guns, socks, tents, rain gear, sleeping bags, rifles and knives"

I think I remember this. Did they also say "all kinds of knives"?

Academy is doing quite well up on Research. I can rely on their prices and inventory better than any of the other sports stores in Austin.

 

I think that's right: "All kinds of knives."

 

Brings back memories! I used to go to Academy Surplus frequently in the 70s. That pic also is how I remember Austin when I first moved here to go to UT.

 

A friend of mine was friends with the red haired kid in the commercials. I think the commercials went something like "That's right, Dave". I think Dave was related to the owners whose family name was Gochman. It has been a long time though so my memory could be off.

 

So was there any connection between Academy Surplus and today's Academy store?

 

Yes

 

Cool.

Thanks.

 

funny story. i worked there during college and Mack came in during the start of his first year at Texas. walked up to my register with 200$ in fishing stuff and handed me his credit card. Declined. said he would be back later to get the stuff but never saw him again.
Guess that was before his 5 million $ contracts hit :0)

Sad when that place closed down. the one on burnet too. and the tom thumb on burnet...ah the good ole days.

 

Nobody saw what the price of gas was?

 

If you like old Austin photos check out this link...this is where the photo came from that started this thread.

Historic Austin

 

Photo is proof that Austin has always been about building roads it should have built 20 years ago.

 

I do believe the "original" was on Congress Ave.

 

I grew up in Austin, so I remember it well. I read somewhere that only in Austin is 35 referred to as IH35 - because, if I remember correctly, that stood for Interregional Highway 35.