Military Outlet: From Surplus to Service in Downtown Junction City
Our August HYPE Team Meetup took us to Military Outlet, located at 722 N. Washington St., a longtime downtown Junction City business with a history stretching back more than four decades.
The business originally opened in the 1980s as The Outlet, serving primarily civilian customers with home goods and other merchandise. By the 1990s, it had evolved into the military-focused store our community knows today. After more than a decade working in the business, Alex purchased Military Outlet in 2022 and continues to build on the longstanding relationships and traditions that connect the business to Fort Riley, local law enforcement, and the Junction City community.
During our visit, our HYPE Team got a behind-the-scenes look at just how much happens inside Military Outlet. And believe us, it’s a lot more than military surplus! With more than 60 vendors, the team can often help customers track down something specific even when it isn’t currently on the shelf.
They offer both new and used surplus gear, but one of the coolest parts of our visit was seeing their in-house sewing and alterations department. Their team handles everything from name tapes and uniform sewing to duffle bag repairs and alterations, with customers traveling from as far as Wichita for their services. With a team as great as Military Outlet’s, we understand why it is such a great destination for many military members, police, sheriff and fire departments as well as civilians and adventurers!
Military Outlet also offers dry-cleaning services and a UPS Access Point. Beyond the downtown storefront, they operate the Buy/Sell Store on Monroe Street where customers can shop even more surplus merchandise and sell extra gear for cash!
And here’s a fun fact: the sewing machines and dog tag machine their staff use are older than the business itself! How cool is that? They can even engrave Class A name plates right in the store.
Alex also owns Box N Ship, another local business that originally grew out of a back counter downtown at Military Outlet in the early 2000s. Today, Box N Ship provides international and domestic delivery options through UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL in one location. They also offer a free medium flat-rate shipping program for APO/FPO addresses, helping local military families and service members stay connected around the world sponsored by their friends at Packages for Warriors!
One thing that especially stood out during our visit was how much the Military Outlet team genuinely loves being part of Downtown Junction City. They’re enthusiastic supporters of downtown events like Freedom Fest and Cups of Culture, and their story is a great example of a longtime business continuing to grow and evolve alongside our community. Check out their ever-growing collection online at MilitaryOutlet.com
Thank you to the Military Outlet team for welcoming our HYPE Team, showing us behind the scenes, and continuing to choose downtown Junction City as your home!
Next time you’re in downtown, stop in, explore, be curious and, as Military Outlet likes to say: Live Adventurously!
