Around New Mexico: The Black Hole Atomic Surplus Store, Los Alamos, NM

Only 40 miles from Santa Fe is Los Alamos, and Corky's Roadside Attractions iPhone app told us not to miss Atomic Ed's Black Hole Surplus Store  -a junk store filled with nuclear weapons industry cast-offs.  We didn't know that during winter hours they close at 3:00pm and we rolled in only twenty minutes before.  Needless to say the management wasn't too pleased that two ladies with an arted-up cigarette machine wanted to come take photos with (and not buy anything).  Some free samples of Art*o*mat® art and a nice tip changed the vibe a bit but we were in and out of there in a flash nevertheless.

Mat at Atomic Ed's Black Hole Surplus Store.  Los Alamos, NM

Mat fits right in at the funky Black Hole Atomic Surplus Store.  Los Alamos, NM

Atomic Ed Grothus passed away a few years back and his children now run the business.  I only got to glance at the warehouse full of aisles of atomic age nostalgia and strange doo-hickies with knobs and dials and ancient looking tv screens. Hours could be spent there and anyone with a creative streak in them could acquire a fine collection of "art supplies."  I asked for a geiger counter or a gas mask but sadly, they were plumb out. The manager mentioned that they were not getting in any new inventory because they were planning on going out of business.  Sad news, but not so impossible to believe in this economy.  If anyone reading this plans on visiting, we recommend you do it soon or this gem of a weirdness warehouse might be a thing of the past.

It's love at first sight! Mat meets Betty Buttons (or was it Debby Dials?) at The Black Hole

Mat and "girlfriend," Betty Buttons cuddle close in front of a "missile" and pile of bowling balls.

Mat gets a kick out of the inventory at Atomic Ed's Black Hole Surplus Store

The "First Church of High Technology" (closed) next door to the store was sequestered behind a chain link fence out of Mat's reach, but we had to take a few photos. It's just...well...we don't quite have words for it. It's so cool! I wish I'd got to meet Atomic Ed.  The Black Hole website mentions an HBO documentary special about him and his store so that's something that we'll have to seek out when we get home. Peace, man!

"No one is secure unless everyone is secure" First Church of High Technology at Atomic Ed's  Los Alamos, NM

Memorial sign at the First Church of High Technology Los Alamos, NM

There's even a crashed flying saucer next to the church! Reminds us of Roswell....but that's another trip.