Keep American Science & Surplus Alive

A heartfelt message from Pat Meyer, owner of American Science & Surplus: Calling All Surpies!

It was 1984. I was 16 years old, and my first job was at a little store called American Science Center on Northwest Hwy in Chicago. The day I started, I was expectedly nervous. First job and all. One of the first tasks was to clean the showcase of our telescopes. Simple right? But pretty expensive stuff. While I was wiping the shelves, one of them gave way, sending two $500 scopes falling. I caught one in my right hand and one on top of my foot. Crisis averted, phew, until I saw my boss looking at me with complete shock and horror. Damn new kid!

Fast forward 41 years to 2025. My name is Pat Meyer, and for the past 41 years of my life I have worked at American Science & Surplus. In 2012, I loved it so much that I purchased the now 88-year old company. We have come a long way since that one store on Northwest Hwy (now in Park Ridge). We have a second store in Milwaukee, a third in Geneva, Ill., a mail order catalog and a website. Over these many years, you, our incredible community we call “Surpies,” have become more than just customers; you are family. Generations of family. Over these 88 years, we’ve shared in your passion for discovery, your ingenious inventions that have blown us away, and the electric energy of our in-store science nights. Our tagline, "Incredible Stuff, Unbelievable Prices," barely scratches the surface. It should be: Incredible Surpies, Unbelievable People! You all inspire us!

Our three stores are run by incredible people who care as much about American Science & Surplus as I do. I cannot thank them enough. They’ve created a fun, entertaining atmospheres that have encouraged and inspired generations of customers/friends.

Then there are the surplus products that help to inspire you and your passions. How about those surplus products! Mule-branding kits. Shrunken skulls. Giant suction cups. Wooden German wig heads. Do you have a favorite? If you need a widget, we have the widget! If you need a gadget, we have the gadget!

Today, we ask you to help us save our 88-year legacy. American Science & Surplus is facing our greatest challenge yet. Rising operational costs, the increased pressure from online retail giants, software issues and soaring shipping rates have pushed our small business (and many others) to the brink of closure. We need to relocate our warehouse (about a $130,000 cost), update our software (about $25,000) and reorganize our small business. After nearly nine decades, the possibility of American Science & Surplus disappearing is a heartbreak we can't imagine, and we hope many of you feel the same.

We have reached out to many avenues in search of revenue to support our business, and we will continue to do so as we have been unsuccessful.

So we ask if you are in a position to help support us, we would be extremely grateful. Any small donation would help, and the money received will be used to help support our efforts to re-organize American Science & Surplus so we can continue to be the same source of ingenuity, invention and wacky products that you have known and loved over the years.

American Science & Surplus (aka American Lens and Photo, American Science Center, Jerryco, Sciplus.com) has been a part of the fabric of our neighborhoods for generations in Chicago, Milwaukee, Geneva/West Chicago, Ill., in our catalog and online since before I was here and hopefully, with your help, will be long after I am gone.

You, our Surpies, are legendary people, and are the only reason that we are in business. Incredible Stuff, Unbelievable Prices. Thank you soooo much for your consideration. We never would have come this far without your support and passion for our company.

Please share this with family, friends and most of all, other Surpies.

Sincerely,

Pat Meyer