Elvis is Here

My usual Friday Funnies is a photo(s) of something that has struck me as odd or funny because of placement, wording, etc. A recent FF post was expanded to include oddities seen at The Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff. This week's post is similar as we explored a very unusual furniture store, notable more for other things as you will soon see. 

As the post title says, Elvis is here in NH. Well, not exactly all of him, but at least there's a very large representation, and there's no mistaking the image likeness.

This nearly 10-foot high Elvis head resides in the corner of a Londonderry, NH, furniture outlet store. The larger-than-life piece really gives visitors a chance to get up close and personal to the King in a very BIG way. 

As you may have figured out, this furniture outlet is not the usual type. And, if not for a cancellation last weekend, we wouldn't have found and explored it. Sometimes, the unexpected works out well.

Overnight Saturday rains and the threat of more closed the outdoor flea market, our planned Sunday excursion. But, we didn't find out until we'd arrived there and saw the posted sign.

What to do in the area?

We remembered that Tim Stavrou, the new owner of a Nashua hotel liquidation firm near the mill apts told us about his flagship store, Deja Vu. He assured us that it was unlike any other furniture liquidation store, and as luck would have it, like the flea market, it was in Londonderry and open Sundays.

And he was right about it being unusual (quite).

Our nearly 2-hour visit was a nostalgic, retro, pop culture adventure. There's something to see down every aisle of this place and it was the most fun we've had without spending any money. Of course, everything here has a price for the right person and there's some very unique items. 

The term déjà vu derives from the French and means already seen. Whenever it occurs, it stirs up something that’s been seen before, a place, person, experience or thing.

First piece we saw at the entry

The story of Deja Vu Furniture (no accent marks) the store and its owners, Tim and Martha Stavrou of Keene, NH, has been featured on the Roadside America site and a local show, Chronicle New Hampshire. The business has been open 15 years. A family member came up with the name suggesting that everything there had been seen before, certainly not by us.

There's furnishings and so much more. Some of the decor considered novelty to the utmost degree. At times, it felt like we had found our way into the prop department of a film studio. Where else could you find full-size super heroes like Superman, Batman, Spiderman and then horror characters like Dracula and Frankenstein?

There wasn't a space in the store where something didn't catch our attention as we tried to explore so many nooks and crannies crammed into this 34,000 square foot warehouse. There's also flat screen TVs, mini refrigerators, barstools, lamps of every variety, and furniture from Art Deco to modern. Some pieces were available in more than one color matching any decor.

What to do with used wine bottles

Just look at some of what we found during our first (definitely not last) visit. Life size replicas of characters for popular foods or eateries, a life-sized version of the rock group KISS, the Blue Brothers (with new member Grenville) plus statues in various sizes and shapes. 

Grenville with life-size Blues Brothers figures

If you're looking for an unusual horse statue, this is the place to go. The selection included wooden rockers, several carousal horses to a disco horse. 

Looking for a new sign? There's plenty to choose from and vintage amusement park games too. 

There's nothing like having your own personal guard. Here, you can select from several.

Knick-knacks, paintings, movie props, sports memorabilia, antiques, lighting fixtures, are just a few of the countless items found in this offbeat emporium. How about a disco ball light?

Sports icons and mascots are here too

Guitar playing Santa, Louis Armstrong and Jack Daniel

Business is mainly word of mouth although there's a website, blog and social media like Facebook.  Its owner, Tim Stavrou, started in the hotel makeover business and he and staff would assemble and/or disassemble hotel rooms. He bought hotel-grade furniture and furnishings, acquiring a warehouse full of stuff, before opening a place to liquidate it all. Some are clearly recognizable from where they came like chairs, couches, ironing boards, microwaves, mirrors, vanities, desks, fixtures, all items found in a hotel. Some are time-warp pieces and stylized designs capture their era. 

Pizza anyone?

There was no ship to go with the masthead figure 

As far as why all the oddball items, Stavrou said that furniture didn't make him happy, these things did. He said his reputation for buying crazy items has sellers seeking him out now.

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Fish for sale, some great catches

There wasn't a whole car here, just assorted parts of two

Fill 'er up at Esso Gas

Walking around Deja Vu Furniture, it's just as important to look up as to look around. Things like toy cars, planes even statues hang from the ceiling. Signs are posted to watch your head.

Signs are posted to watch your head. It's not a suggestion, but mandatory.

Vehicles and planes are hung throughout the store

Archangel Michael was hanging around

Not that we were buying anything on our visit, but we did inquire as to what was the most expensive item in the store. We were directed to this statue at the front desk.

We were told that this statue was one of four from the estate of financier JP Morgan. It's made entirely of marble and the price tag is quite hefty, but we were told that a discount would be possible, if you're at all interested. What a great entry piece it would make.

The floor inventory changes often as most items are one-of-a-kind. This display of life-sized clowns was not my favorite. Hopefully, these will find a new home by our next visit. 

Scary monsters were preferable to these demonic-looking clowns

We learned that a warehouse storage space located above the store doesn't have public access with old and new hotel furniture stacked almost to the rafters. 

Maybe our next visit will result in a great find for our apt home, just not this trip.

Grenville considered his & her throne for our LR

This coming weekend we may venture out to the flea market as the weather forecast is predicted to be dry and hot. We'll definitely return to Deja Vu Furniture another time since looking around was fun and free — two of our favorites, maybe yours as well.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Baseball game, fireworks and flea market for us