Colonel Bubbie’s

We visited this store back in July 2014. This surplus warehouse deserves all five stars. Its a great store and was so fun to look around in. We bought two t-​shirts for great prices. Sad to see them going out of business!

This review really pains me because I know the next time I’ll be in Galveston, Colonel Bubbie’s will be no more.
As of September 2014, the business is in the process of closing its doors permanently.
I’ve been coming to Bubbie’s pretty much ever since I can remember. Being a bit military obsessed as a kid, and then coming here, was like an out of body experience. It’s a warehouse full of the unusual and odd – military surplus from the world over – but it isn’t particularly big, so it kind of has a cramped pack-​rat feel (since there’s virtually no spot left vacant). It’s dank and stuffy inside, and totally miserable in the summer (due to the lack of any air conditioning), but I love it. And I’ll miss it so much.
Thanks for all the great memories over the years. Colonel Bubbie’s will truly be missed.

So sad! This place has been here forever and is now closing!

Very unique store with tons of military paraphernalia. Fun to walk around and look at everything from what seems like every era possible. Even if you don’t buy anything, cool to browse around and experience something new!

This is a really cool place to visit. The entrance is on the side and they have tons and tons of military stuff, but some in confined spaces. This is not a place for handicapped. There are stairs and very narrow passages. They used to have a ton of cats but they may be gone now. The only weird thing about this area is the parking. Parking meters do not seem to work correctly since the hurricane. They are solar powered and the time was wrong on the one we tried to use.

Of all the shops on The Strand, this was the most unique.
It advertises itself as the only surplus store on The Strand. There are several steps to enter so no strollers are wheelchairs can enter. At the top of the stairs is a rotating gate that only allows you to enter.
Inside the store are row after row of military surplus items. This store is way cool. There were items from all different countries and wars. There were shoes, boots, uniforms, insignia and dummy hand grenades.
I’ve always wanted a dummy grenade since I was a kid so I bought one. They had pineapple, lemon and baseball types. It was only about $ 11 and will look great in my office.
I highly recommend this store if you’re a dude or a girl into old military stuff.

Salute! Colonel Bubbie’s military surplus store on the Strand is the perfect diversion from the tired and touristy while wandering the Island. Want some dress whites so you can look like a swabbie? A Czech army mess kit? A Russian army blanket? A machete? (Please note the sign that says you have to be 18+ to handle them, kidlets.) Colonel Bubbie has you covered. If it’s military related, they probably have it here, from syrup jars from the mess to entrenching shovels.
As a kid, every trip to Galveston was not complete until my dad was allowed to clamber around in this tight, stuffy space (and drag me and my sister along). Yes, that’s right, no air conditioning – but there are fans scattered around the store if you ever need a break from the heat. I think it’s a universal law of nature that no matter the background, guys are always entranced by these articles of war, no matter how mundane. I wasn’t expecting my boyfriend to get so excited about a boonie hat or a belt, but I actually lost track of him for a while because he was rushing around the cramped aisles like he was in hog heaven.
The store was damaged and muddied during Ike, and there are pictures up on the wall near the cash register of what the store looked like post-​hurricane and all the merchandise they had to toss out. There’s a rack of $ 1 and $ 4 «Ike T-​Shirts» if you’re looking for a bargain (there are a few stains here and there, but they’re in generally good condition). BF was looking for a Soviet flag because he heard they had them here, but alas, there was no flag to be found, comrade. They did have an extensive collection, but I unfortunately had no use for a Nicaraguan flag.
The prices are a little high, and my military-​minded dad says you can get a lot of these things cheaper on eBay. But as far as an experience goes, Colonel Bubbie’s can’t be beat. You can’t try on ridiculous hats or jam helmets onto each others’ heads if you’re buying on eBay.