©TripAdvisor
In a world where you can click and have nearly anything you can imagine delivered from Amazon within a couple of days, there's something refreshing and nostalgic about the idea of a store that sells only one item within its doors. Go back in time to days when your choices were limited and life was, dare we say, simpler with these stores that are uber-specialized.
Related: Classic Five-and-Dime Stores From Yesterday and Today
New York
Light bulbs are a piece of art at this store located in Manhattan. Since 1980, the shop has been considered the place to go for all types of rare bulbs, and they even staff light bulb "experts," many of whom have been working there for decades. Visitors will find a vast selection of bulbs in varying shades of brightness as well as decorative bulbs. If there's an obscure light bulb you want, they likely have it.
Related: 25 Weirdest Items Sold on Amazon That You'll Still Want
Los Angeles
What started as a small family-run Italian grocery 100 years ago has become the premier stop for sodas in Los Angeles. Owner John Nese developed an interest in soda in the 1950s when he would visit his friend's father's soda pop bottling plant, and has since made soda a lifelong pursuit. Today, Galco's Soda Pop Stop sells over 600 varieties of sodas, many of which can be ordered online, as well as a selection of craft beer and vintage candies. Visitors can even create their own soda concoction with the 100 syrups on tap. (You can learn more about Galco's and other one-of-a-kind destinations in "100 Things to Do in Los Angeles Before You Die" written by Danny Jensen, Cheapism's Managing Editor.)
Related: 44 Unique Regional Sodas You Have to Try — If You Can Find Them
London
Barn the Spoon isn't just a shop that sells wooden spoons — it's a way of life. Owner Barnaby Carder is a British woodworker who dedicated himself to carving spoons nearly a decade ago, and now shares his passion with the world via his books and classes. He also sells his made-to-order spoons online.
For more unique shopping ideas, please sign up for our free newsletters.
Olympia, Washington
This destination yarn shop is committed to the art of knitting in the hope that the skill can become a way to connect generations of families. The Black Sheep Yarn Boutique sells a vast selection of wool and alpaca yarn, and also offers knitting classes. Many of the items can be ordered online.
Paris
Could there be anything quite as French as a custom-made, one-of-a-kind umbrella? This Parisian boutique Parasolerie Heurtault sells umbrellas that are a fashion statement. The accessory is made with techniques that are over 200 years old, and are designed to last a minimum of 20 years. Those outside of Paris can special order one of these custom creations via the website.
Baltimore and Parkville, Maryland
This store cuts and ships foam of pretty much any size or shape for whatever your needs are. If a pillow needs plumping, your pet deserves a custom bed, or your yacht needs a new mattress, The House of Foam is on it for whatever foam project is necessary.
Berlin
A shop that sells nothing but ants may either be your worst nightmare or a dream come true. This Berlin-based business sells anything an amateur or expert ant keeper would need, and it even ships.
Multiple Locations
The name probably gives a hint that the Savannah Bee Company sells all things related to one product: honey. Its shops around the country (there are stores in Arizona, Connecticut, and Georgia and other states) offer numerous varieties of local honey to sample and buy, as well as beauty products, foods and candles made with honey. Many of the products can be ordered online.
Antwerp, Belgium
Now the last remaining glove shop in Antwerp, The Ganterie Boon has been a family business for three generations, selling craft gloves for nearly 120 years. The store still features the original glove boxes, countertops, cabinets and chairs from previous centuries. An assortment of gloves from the shop are for sale online.
Chicago
Since 1996, hat maker Graham Thomspon has been reviving the art of hat making by using antique machinery to create timeless, high-quality toppers. The Chicago-based headquarters are located inside a 100-year-old fire station that exemplifies the old-school feel of the hats. If you can't get to Chicago, Optimo Hats will do custom fittings over the phone and online.
Portland, Oregon
Gourmet salt is the thing to get at The Meadow. You'll find unique locally made salts, such as a berry flavor good for breakfast foods and a blue-cheese flavor to sprinkle on pasta or popcorn. There is also a carefully curated selection of locally made artisan chocolates and bitters. To add to the unique vibe, the entire shop is built out of reclaimed old-growth timbers from Oregon. An additional store is currently in the works in Tokyo.
London
It's all ukuleles at this London shop, which also ships to the states. The store opened in 2005 as the first ever shop in the U.K. devoted to ukeleles, and has established itself as the premier source for hundreds of types, as well as sheet music, accessories and more.
Multiple Locations in California and Connecticut
Vintage video game lovers can find everything from old-school Atari to Donkey Kong at one of the four locations in Connecticut and California. Retro Games Plus will also buy your old games via trade-in by mail if you can't make it to the store.
New York
This rubber stamp store offers everything a stamping and stencil fanatic could want, and ships for those who can't get to the New York City location. The Ink Pad specializes in wood-mounted rubber stamps, and is frequented by crafters as well as anyone just looking for an unusual statement stamp.
Related: Iconic Department Stores We Miss
Lisbon, Portugal
If you're lucky enough to get to Lisbon, this family-run shop has been selling a vast range of tinned seafood since 1930. Many of the same elements of the store remain unchanged since that time, giving visitors a chance to step back into history as they shop.
Related: 27 Unusual Canned Foods You Might Actually Want to Eat
Elma, New York
It's all-American, all the time at this shop in Upstate New York. The Made In America Store claims to be the only bricks-and-mortar general-merchandise store in the U.S. to sell 100% American-made products, even down to the packaging. Inside, you'll find everything from clothing to beauty products to hardware. Many items can be ordered online. The store even offers tours and a dining room, for an all-inclusive experience.
London
This London shop that sells only cactus plants is the first of its kind in the city. Store owner Gynelle Leon switched from a career in photography to cacti as she became a passionate collector of the plants. Leon was fond of their ability to thrive in apartments and live long without much care. As she had trouble finding the unusual plants herself, she decided to share her passion with the world and sell unique cacti in her own store. The shop will ship plants via its online store as well.
Related: Awesome Plant Pots We Can't Wait to Add to Our Collection
New York
Hot sauce is the only thing on the shelves at Heatonist's two locations in New York City (customers can also order online). The shops offer a curated selection of some of the most unique and mouth-burning sauces one can find, mostly from small batch makers. There is also the option of joining a monthly hot sauce subscription.
Related: The Spiciest Foods Around the World
