Call’s Curiosity Shop is just that.

Owner Benny Call, a Lawrence County dog warden by day, opened his store in October. This is not Call’s first foray into small business ownership; he owned and operated a store downtown several years ago with the same name.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thrift store. It’s a curiosity shop,” Call said. “We always have different things. If you know what you’re looking for, we probably have it. If you aren’t looking for anything in particular, we’ll have something you want, too.”

The inventory at Call’s is vast and varied. Although used furniture and baby items make up a majority of the store’s merchandise, Call said the store always offers “something different” and if a shopper can’t find what they’re looking for, Call will try to find it.

“I bring in new items every Wednesday and Saturday,” he said. “There is no way to know what a shopper wants and there is no way for a shopper to know what we have.”

The idea for the stores – both former and current – stemmed from the sagging economy and elderly residents on fixed incomes.

“A lot of people can’t afford to buy new furniture or new anything,” Call said. “We offer good, used items at bargain prices. I sell a lot of things to older folks.”

Call’s mother, Emma, runs the store on a day-to-day basis at 212 S. Third St. She can be found there during normal business hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call said hours would be extended in spring and summer. The store can be reached at 740-442-1358.