WE LOVE IT!
The store was founded in 1970 by Doyle
Owens, when he borrowed a pickup truck
and $300 to head for Washington, D.C.,
where he purchased unclaimed bags
from the bus industry. The selling
started on top of card tables from his
home, growing into the opening of
a store that today is more than 40,000
square feet and occupies a city block.
The finds are cultivated from airlines, bus
lines and train carriers from unclaimed
baggage and cargo. Doyle Owens’ son,
Bryan, purchased the business in 1995 and
made getting national media attention for
the store a priority. Everyone from“The
Today Show” to Oprah have featured the
store on their shows. The store itself is much
like a typical suitcase with clothes, shoes
and jewelry taking centerstage. A significant
choosing of books, plenty of eyewear and
large selection of electronics and sporting
goods are highlighted.
There are items you wouldn’t expect to find
like a suit of armor, a mummified falcon
and a Jim Henson puppet-goblin from the
cult film Labyrinth. And the bling found will
blow your mind: a 5.8-carat diamond set in
a platinum band that was found packed in
a sock, a 40.95-carat natural emerald and a
platinum Rolex valued at over $64,000.
According to the Unclaimed Baggage Center
website, about 5% of unclaimed bags are
reclaimed. The airlines pay the lost claims
and then sell those bags to the center. The
lost bags arrive by tractor-trailer to the
processing facility to be sorted and priced.
All clothing is dry-cleaned and laundered at
their in-house facility, the largest in Alabama.
Fine jewelry is cleaned and appraised.
Electronic equipment is tested and cleared
of personal data. The best stuff gets onto
the retail floor with remaining items being
donated through their Reclaimed for Good
program, helping people around the world.
It’s not just about shopping. It’s a wonderful
experience from the Guest Services to
the Starbucks cafe to the smiling, helpful
associates. You can reserve a personal
shopper, a ninety-minute session with one of
their professional style advisors to build your
profile and help you shop the best of all
the clothing and accessories. There is custom
shipping that will take the hassle out of getting
those fancy finds home. They even have a
plan for the furry ones who can be cared for
while you shop at Cutie Petooties for $10 a
day, located only five minutes away. Most fun
is that daily you can join in the action with
the Baggage Experience. At 2:30 each day,
a shopper is chosen to experience opening
an unprocessed bag; you never know what
you might find! The Unclaimed Baggage
Center is located in Scottsboro, Alabama, a
picturesque town nestled in the foothills of
the Appalachian Mountains on the banks
of the Tennessee River. It is the perfect road
trip break. Enjoy the shopping experience,
and then head an hour south to Huntsville to
check out the U.S. Space and Rocket Center or
north to experience all the
fun of Chattanooga.
The final home of
lost luggage in the
middle of the best
road trip route all the
year-round!
North of Birmingham, West of Atlanta and
South of Chattanooga is where you will
find the most unique shopping destination:
the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where lost
suitcases finally settle to have their contents
reappraised, cleaned, repriced for display.
With over a shoppers that annually visit, it’s a
must not miss extravaganza.
Monday-Friday:
9:00 - 6:00 CT
Saturday:
8:00 - 7:00 CT
Closed Sundays,
Thanksgiving
and Christmas
509 W. Willow Street
Scottsboro, Alabama
35768
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48 McMINN LIFE SUMMER 2019