The distinctive and cherished American Science & Surplus store in the Chicago region is appealing to the local community for assistance as they face potential closure.
The establishment — with current outlets in Uptown Park Ridge, the western suburbs of Geneva, and Milwaukee — has been operating for almost nine decades. This place is so distinctive that even the proprietor, Patrick Meyer, finds it challenging to describe it accurately.
“It’s quite challenging to depict American Science & Surplus,” Meyer stated.
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Visitors can test their luck with the store’s website.
American Science & Surplus, previously known as American Science Center, was founded around 1937 by Western Electric employee Al Luebbers.
As Al harbored a keen fascination with optics, he observed that a neighboring firm adjacent to his workplace was discarding defective lenses,” the store’s webpage explains. “Curious, he enquired whether he might purchase these rejects; however, they responded, ‘We cannot sell them to you, but feel free to take them if you arrange for their removal yourselves.’
Luebbers and his spouse cleaned up the lenses, refurbished them, and put them up for sale on Popular Science. This resulted in orders pouring in, which ultimately led to the establishment of their enterprise, American Lens & Photo.
After World War II, war surplus became the catalyst for the expansion of the company. Luebbers went on to open a retail store on Chicago’s Northwest Side called American Science Center — which also featured educational science items.
On December 4, 1978, for a holiday gift article, the daring Channel 2 newsman Bob Wallace dropped by the American Science Center, which was situated at 5700 North Northwest Highway within Chicago’s Norwood Park area. Among their selection were items like a massive ten-foot-long shovel designed specifically for clearing ash from antique coal heaters, an artifact from World War II—a bombsight—as well as a mid-1950s era Geiger counter and a towering manometer exceeding even Wallace’s height.
“The likelihood is that if you’re attempting to assemble some kind of scientific device, the component needed to finalize your creation might just be sitting on a shelf around here,” Wallace mentioned in his tale from 1978.
What later turned into American Science & Surplus continued to grow. In the 1970s, Jerry Luebbers, Wallace’s associate, stepped up as the new leader after his father Al Luebbers. During this time, he initiated a catalog business named Jerryco in 1979 and added another store location in 1981.
In 1988, Jerry Luebbers acquired a partner named Scott McCausland, but shortly afterward, when Jerry passed away at the age of 46, McCausland purchased the business from the Luebblers family. The branch in Geneva commenced operations in 1991.
In 1995, American Science & Surplus established its initial online presence with the launch of their website. The company changed hands when McCausland stepped down and transferred ownership to Philip Cable, described as a “lifetime science enthusiast.” In 2012, Philip Cable then sold the business to an employee named Patrick Meyer.
The main branch of the store in the Chicago region has shifted locations multiple times throughout the years. Following its initial spot in Norwood Park, American Science & Surplus operated out of 5316 N. Milwaukee Ave., within the Gladstone Park district, for an extended period—until it relocated to 27 N. Northwest Hwy. in Park Ridge in February 2022.
However, the essence of these stores hasn’t changed over time—items at American Science & Surplus still spark both rigorous scientific endeavors and lighthearted fun. For instance, back in about 1990, a young lad dreaming of acquiring a rubber brain and some plastic eyeballs to craft his version of the antagonist Krang from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” needed only visit American Science & Surplus for all those supplies.
Today, American Science & Surplus continues to stock an eclectic mix of goods originally intended for industry, the military, and education—items that have found their way into DIY vehicles, telescopes, model railways, and artworks. During a recent visit to the Park Ridge store on Tuesday, one could find science flasks alongside children’s toys, all coexisting with a WWII-era mule branding kit.
CBS Chicago has continued to make regular visits over the years as well. After Wallace, the reporters who took over the Channel 2 light feature segments—reporter Vince Gerasole and meteorologist Ed Curran—also contributed with multiple appearances for our newscasts throughout the years.
Loyal customers known as Surpies happily sport tattoos of the store’s logo.
Meyer, who has been with American Science & Surplus since his teen years, is now the current owner.
“Somewhere between Radio Shack, Home Depot, and Bed, Bath & Beyond,” Meyer tried again to explain the mysterious store.
But he says the situation now is dire.
Meyer stated, “It’s not ideal. We need to go through many different stages to get ourselves out of this situation.”
Increasing expenses, rivalry from e-commerce behemoths such as Amazon, along with software issues are among the hurdles American Science & Surplus encounters, according to Meyer.
He mentioned, ‘When you enter this place, you form connections with individuals,’ and added, ‘It’s extremely difficult for me to envision any harm coming to them.’
Meyer has initiated an online fundraising campaign to attempt saving both his business and his community.
Eighty-eight years have passed, and we’ve developed strong connections,” Meyer stated, “and we’re hopeful that they will be able to assist us.
Whether they’re children or seniors, people across all ages have felt the influence of this store.
“I always come across something intriguing for me here,” stated young Isaac Roth.
I have considered this store my holy grail for all these years,” stated Andy Anderson. “I’ve been visiting here for 35 years now.
“It fills me with great sadness,” stated Evynn Roth. “It’s truly a welcoming spot and quite distinctive — one that I would certainly hate to see go.”
The Park Ridge branch of American Science & Surplus can be found at 27 North Northwest Highway. In Geneva, it’s situated on Route 38, approximately a quarter-mile east of Kirk Road. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee outlet is positioned at 6901 West Oklahoma Avenue within the zip code area designated as 414.
American Science & Surplus also has a warehouse located at 7410 Lehigh Avenue in Niles.
