The Quonset Hut

This is a great store. Merchandise is in great shape. The best military surplus store I’ve ever been in. The employee was very nice and had a lot of information about each item. Miss Daisy the dog that works there also is a sweetheart. This is the place to come for military items.

This past summer, a friend and I spent a weekend visiting three military supply stores in Austin. Our favorite store was Quonset Hut, located off the drag. The store is brimming with authentic military gear and true finds (for example, a hat from the Afghanistan war, worn by a Russian soldier in the 1980s). There is inventory in every nook and cranny, much of it very reasonably priced (for example, authentic 100% cotton hats at $ 4). We visited the shop twice that weekend because there were so many interesting items. The owner was friendly and knowledgeable, sharing the history of his collection with us.

great place to buy US Military stuff and I know one of the owners and he is a great guy

Really cool place for the right crowd. I’m cheap & don’t have a true interest in adventuring or military items so it’s not really for me, but I can appreciate that this place has it’s own niche. If you are adventurous and outdoorsy you could definitely use some of this stuff! It is high quality military surplus. They also have some very cool older items that I assume are rare by the price tag (you’d have to know more than me!!!)
It’s somewhat expensive if you are a leisurely shopper like me, but I’m betting the price would be right for a true collector or someone in need of military grade items.

Quonset hut. Have you heard of it? No, well let me tell you, you’re missing out.
Nestled away in West Campus, directly adjacent to Spider House, and right next door to Waterloo Cycles, this military specialty shop is right at home. If you haven’t made your way inside, I highly recommend you put it on your list of things to do. Whether you’re in search of a unique piece of history, looking to reminisce on times long since passed, or even just exploring one of the innumerable interesting and truly unique places Austin has to offer, Quonset is the place to go.
From the moment you walk in, this shop captures your full attention. There isn’t a single square foot of space left unoccupied; everywhere you turn, something new and interesting is waiting to grab your attention. But it’s not just the shop that makes this place something special.
I first walked into Quonset looking to do a photo story for a photographic communication class I’m currently enrolled in, but after meeting Ed, the owner, I knew immediately that I’d be shifting my focus. I’d found a hidden jewel, and I don’t just mean the shop. Ed was so welcoming; the kind of person you can greet with a simple «Hello,» and feel like you’ve known for years. Not even ten minutes after we’d met, Ed was sharing stories, showing me pictures, telling me all about the shop’s beginning, his upbringing as a military child, and some of the customers that have come through over the years that he’s since built a long-​standing relationship with. Before I knew it, two hours had passed, and it was time for him to close up shop.
Not even two weeks after my first visit, I returned hoping to continue the conversation. As the hours passed by, I learned that Ed was never all too certain what he wanted to do with his life as he was growing up, but his father told him, «‘Son, whatever you do in life, you’ve got to work for yourself. You’re too independent to do anything else.’» Ed then told me, «He was right.» After several years in the Hotel Management business, Ed walked away from it all, started his little shop in West Campus, and has been going strong for seventeen years since.
Quonset is a place I won’t soon forget, and I promise if you stop by, you won’t either.

This place is small, but they have a lot of stuff packed in here and the staff is very friendly and helpful (even went so far as to suggest a competitor for something they did not have in my size).

I had an ungainly folding bike that was scheduled to make an international flight the next day. I need a military grade, tough-​as-​nails, big, big, bag to stuff this thing in. Where to go what to do? Option 1… Call Quonset Hut! But I did not realize it was already 6:10pm…they close at 6:00. Dang. I almost hang up when bang, there is Ed on the phone. Has what I need. I tell him I need it tonight. He stays open a good 30 minutes later than usual to receive me. The bag was as advertised. Bike is now on plane heading to Belgium this am. Thank you Ed!!!

I don’t shop for military stuff, but needed a 1950’s Navy dress A uniform cap so I could bury my father in full military honors. Q-​Hut did come through and find a correct hat, but charged a $ 100 for it. I have since looked on auction sites and found the same hat starting at $ 10 and going up to about $ 40 or $ 45, but since obviously time was of the essence, we had little choice but to purchase it .
Bottom line-​I felt that we were taken advantage of because of our state of mind/​grief.

If you’re looking for genuine military surplus, Quonset Hut has it. If there’s something a little odd or rare (20^th century military related) that you’re after, Quonset Hut is your best bet.
Now, the downside? Once you find what it is you’re after, you might not be able to afford it. The prices here are a bit steep.
Still, I like this shop. By chance, I stopped here about 10 years ago, right after they had received a shipment of NATO-​era Luftwaffe leather flight jackets and, well, 10 years later I still have the same jacket. I guess if you’re like me and don’t mind digging around the tiny shop for hidden treasures or paying a bit more for the genuine article, then you’ll like this place too.

I went here today looking for a bag to replace my old canvas messenger bag. They have a pretty varied selection of military gear. The place is packed and only vaguely organized, but that’s pretty standard for an Army/​Navy surplus place. I did notice that most of the selection seemed more geared towards military collectors and filmmakers (they rent out gear) and not towards people who are looking for actual serviceable gear. I did find a pretty sweet Czech army bag and I only paid a little more for it than I thought I would have elsewhere. Their selection of BDU’s was pretty small, so if you’re looking for those I’d recommend going to NS Army Navy Store. The guy who runs the place seemed really friendly and eager to assist his customers. We called him to ask for directions when we were looking for the place and he was very helpful. It’s located behind the gas station at Guadalupe and 29^th, fyi.

Through years of moving around after leaving the military I have lost some things and had some just plain stolen. So to find a decent surplus store that can help me replace those items is a very cool thing.
Quonset Hut is located right off the drag on Fruth and it offers some very cool items, from modern surplus to World War II era surplus and even older. The owner is very friendly and willing to help you find what you need or place any special orders. He isn’t that knowledgeable about Navy stuff but hey that’s not a big deal, I know what I need.
The prices can be a little high but you are paying for the convenience and the service, not something you are going to find buying online. I will warn you though that the place is VERY packed, just crammed full of goodies, so it can be hard to find what you are looking for and those who are mobility impaired might have a tough time getting around.
Overall, I really love this place, I appreciate it even being there and I really enjoy the service and sharing stories with the owner. Great store.

This place is the perfect destination for film majors wanting to make a war movie. The owner rents out all of his stuff!
Quonset Hut is a lot smaller than other Army and Navy surplus stores, and they don’t have cool «Vietnam was a Living Hell» T-​shirts, but they do have some stuff I’ve never seen, including super old uniforms, buttons and badges.
The owner of this place is very helpful. He told me all about this awesome 70 year old bicycle he was selling. The bicycle immedietly caught my eye because it had a special Red Cross satchel, holders for canteens and supplies — and it looked like new. I guess they built it to last and to be light because the only tell-​tale sign of it’s age was the dried out leather seat. I fell in love with the bike, I must admit, but it wasn’t for sale. If it were it would cost $ 1,800, the owner said. He bought 10 of these bikes in Switzerland during the ‘70s and sold all but three of them for $ 600. Oh… somebody needs to get me that bike!