One by one we drop our names into the pot. We’ll find out soon who the next lucky contestant is to play: WHAT’S IN THE LUGGAGE! With a sweet Southern drawl teasing my eardrum I hear: Elizabeth Tittle, you’re the winner! And that’s how I clench the title and win the opportunity to find out what’s in the lost luggage at Unclaimed Baggage Center (UCB) in Scottsboro, AL.

Once upon a time in a tiny town…

Unclaimed Baggage was founded in the 1970s in a sleepy little town in north Alabama by an enterprising man named Doyle Owens. He had a brainstorm of an idea: buy lost luggage. He would clean the contents, sell it, and hopefully make a profit. No one else was doing this. Armed with a budget of $300, he borrowed a pickup truck and headed to a bus depot to buy unclaimed baggage. That was the genesis of what today has become a burgeoning operation that woke Scottsboro up. Owens’ son now owns and operates the business . The merchandise comes from suitcases and personal items left in airlines, trains, taxis and busses.

From the small operation that began in a tiny house, the wares are now spread over 40,000 square feet of a modern building and an annex located across the parking lot. Visitors can spend the entire day there. The store also has an in-house eatery, Cups Cafe, that serves delicious food, Starbucks coffee and Alabama-based Piper and Leaf tea. Rare artifacts found in lost luggage is displayed in museum space located in the store .

Just the facts, ma’am

Statistics show that approximately one billion suitcases are checked by travelers at airports every year. Of that huge number, less than half of one percent of those bags are unclaimed or are lost in transit.  The transportation services take at least 90 days, sometimes longer, to search for the owner. Yet even with modern sleuthing techniques, sometimes the connections are not made. That’s when they reach out to Unclaimed Baggage, who helps the airlines by taking the luggage and parcels off their hands.

When suitcases arrive, workers open and sort them. Clothing deemed to be suitable for resale is cleaned in their laundromat/dry cleaning facility, the largest one in North Alabama. Electronics are checked out by technicians. Jewelry is polished and appraised. Then the merchandise is priced at 20- to 80-percent off the suggested retail price and sent to the sales floor. Approximately 7,000 new items hit the floor daily.

Get ready to shop

I arrive on a dreary, drizzling afternoon–the perfect day to plunder through the store. First stop: nourishment. Fortified by a tasty salad sampler and refreshing sweet tea, I’m ready to tackle the bargains. And they’re everywhere. Need a new pair of jeans (possibly brand new with tags)? Got it. What about a new (to you) laptop? Good deals abound. Need some different workout clothes and shoes? Yep, it’s just around the corner. Name brands from around the world are yours to be had for greatly reduced prices. Check out that gorgeous black skirt on display? Could it be a genuine Chanel? It’s possible. Think about it. Don’t you pack your best togs for traveling? That’s why there’s a great selection of quality clothing, electronics and unique souvenirs.

Is there treasure in the suitcase?

I’m ready to tackle what’s in the luggage. I prepare myself for the task by donning the bright orange UCB apron and luxe blue latex gloves. I mean, after all, we don’t know the who, what, where, why or how of the owner. And UCB believes in safe unpacking. Before me lies a basic, nondescript black canvas suitcase. Within it lies possible undiscovered treasures. Could it be a wad of cash? Jewels? Or a wad of dirty clothes? Soon I’ll find out.

Fully protected, I gingerly unzip the outer pockets and reach inside to feel… dirty socks. Ugh. But wait a dadgum minute. Decisions, decisions. I have three choices to make concerning what I do with the trash or treasures I uncover: throw it away, sell or donate. So who benefits if I donate? Several local charities are recipients of the store’s generosity.

After tossing the socks, I search the inside of the suitcase to discover men’s trousers, a single shoe, a couple of name brand shirts. Most of these items can be laundered and sold.

I’ll admit I’m a bit dejected that I wasn’t the person who found a live rattlesnake in their luggage. (True story. One employee actually DID find one. No reports on whether that person came back to work the next day.)

Giving back to the community

UCB works with and contributes to many charities. Take, for instance, the luggage. They will repurpose most of it for foster children. Tired suitcases are painted and redecorated for them. It’s just one of the ways Unclaimed Baggage can brighten the lives of others in their community.

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More than a store

When you visit Unclaimed Baggage, think Southern Hospitality elevated. It’s estimated that over a million people come to this shopping experience from all over the United States and even internationally. Visitors are greeted at the door with a heart-felt welcome by the folks manning the visitors’ desk. There’s a map for those directionally-impaired shoppers (like me). The employees genuinely love their job and it shows. Many of their employees are long-term, having worked there for more than 10 years. Need some advice or help? Just ask one of the friendly folks wearing the UCB name tag.

They go above and beyond the standard of customer service to make you feel welcome. Perhaps you’re RVing with a beloved pet and don’t wish to leave it locked up. They’ve partnered with a local pet sitter who will take care of your furry family member for the day. Guest services can assist you with accommodations, local restaurants or must-see local sights. What if you buy too many bargains to fit in your own suitcase? Unclaimed Baggage has a We Ship program. They will pack your purchases and have it delivered to your door. You pay only for the delivery charges.

Hitting the road soon?

Is there a road trip in your future? Why not make it a shopping/sightseeing trip to North Alabama? What merchandise would you make a bee line for if you visited Unclaimed Baggage?

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