Brunners Tiny Time Shop

Every time I need a new watch battery I go see Good Ol’ Mr. Brunner. Interesting little store where you can find nicer merchandise than what usually is available in Barstow. Probably the last business still going that was there when the downtown area was booming and not a seedy, ghetto infested, nightmare. I couldn’t imagine Barstow without it’s Tiny Time Shop.

It’s a wonder that this place hasn’t gotten a review yet. Then again, maybe its because its Barstow and no tourists in their right mind would want to stop and look around town with drug addicts wandering around this Compton-​like neighborhood lol. Parking’s a little tough, all the parking meter spots are filled up but luckily I had a motorcycle back then to squeeze into a spot.
This business has been around for almost a century, and manned by a lovely old couple (I think they just hit their 50^th or 60^th anniversary when I visited). They sell all sorts of merchandise and souvenirs. They’ve got foreign currency, dusty old typewriters, ancient news clippings, etc. They support the local beauty pageant, soccer team, and a few other organizations. I think they make all of Barstow’s plaques and trophies.
Anyways, I visited this store asking them to do a laser engraving on tomahawk so we could give it to one of the guys at work as his going away gift. I couldn’t help but sympathize with the old man working there as he struggled with his glasses and eyesight to make the laser engraving perfect. I wandered throughout the store reading old newsclippings and checking out the foreign currencies as he worked on the ax. I picked out a clock that seemed to be a miniature replica of my own motorcycle. He finished the engraving less than an hour later (past working hours though) and bid me a good day. I offered to help him take down the displays but him and his wife kindly refused.