Military Surplus stores used to be fun places to shop, because you could pick up useful items like camping gear and just maybe a Navy-issue peacoat or M-65 jack

Military Surplus stores used to be fun places to shop, because you could pick up useful items like camping gear and just maybe a Navy-issue peacoat or M-65 jacket that actually fits you properly, or even random stuff like things to wear at a costume party. Plus the usual assortment of flashlights and maybe some fun additions to your tool box (hemostats are useful for some electronics repair situations, remember this was long before Amazon). Very few stores like that today. They have been hollowed out and are now more like outlet stores that sell stuff that happens to have a camo pattern on it.