American Science and Surplus lives on.
The beloved purveyor of the weird announced Thursday on social media that its Milwaukee location had found a new owner. Kim Stenglein assumed ownership of the 88-year-old shop known for its quirky novelty items, STEM toys and industrial supplies on Oct. 1.
Stenglein has worked at American Science and Surplus, 6901 W. Oklahoma Ave., for over 20 years, much of that time as store manager. She had been working toward purchasing the Milwaukee store for the past couple of months.
“She has a lot of history with this company,” says Lilly Ward, who is replacing Stenglein as store manager. “She has a love for it and wanted the business to continue.”
The ownership change comes after months of concern over the locally beloved store’s potential closure.
Founded in 1937 by Al Luebbers, American Science and Surplus was sold in 2012 to longtime employee Patrick Meyer. This May, Meyer launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the store, which had been facing financial struggles, particularly since the COVID pandemic. The description read: “Rising operational costs, the increased pressure from online retail giants, software issues and soaring shipping rates have pushed our small business (and many others) to the brink of closure. … After nearly nine decades, the possibility of American Science & Surplus disappearing is a heartbreak we can’t imagine, and we hope many of you feel the same.”
Despite raising nearly $200,000 in the span of a few months, the store announced the closure of its mail-order warehouse and web order business in late August. The following month, Meyer announced that he was seeking new ownership for American Science and Surplus’ three locations – Milwaukee, Geneva, Illinois, and Park Ridge, Illinois – with hopeful plans to transfer ownership of the Milwaukee location to Stenglein.
The Park Ridge location in the northwest Chicago suburbs was unable to find a new owner and closed on Sept. 30. The location in Geneva, a far western Chicago suburb, will remain in operation under ownership by one of its former store managers.
“We’re hoping to bring in stuff that has dwindled down over the years,” Ward says of the Milwaukee location. “We want to bring in more of that surplus-y feel that over the years we might have lost a little bit.”
Stenglein, Ward and the American Science and Surplus team also plan to expand their social media presence, using it to highlight new items, share store updates and connect with the community. According to Ward, these efforts will likely take shape after the holiday season.
Ward notes that the staff has been overwhelmed by the support from the Milwaukee community over the past few months.
“[Some] people have been shopping here for 40 years,” says Ward. “The first impression that we make on people helps carry it through generations, and it’s just a huge part of the community.”
Ward expressed gratitude for all the support they’ve received. The new team is excited to continue the store’s legacy into a new chapter, promising more surprises, science and even more gadgets.
