At the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, lost luggage finds a new lease on life. This unique store stretches over a city block, filled with items from unclaimed airline baggage. Visitors here can find anything from a glitzy Rolex and a 1980s-style keyboard guitar to rare movie props, ancient violins and designer clothes.
Bryan Owens, who inherited the business from his father, describes the store's inventory with a hint of wonder. "If these bags could talk, what a story they'd have to tell," he said.
Among the unusual finds are suits of armor. "We've had more than one suit of armor come through, believe it or not," Owens said.
Airlines typically have a 90-day window to reunite lost bags with their owners. After this period, the bags are deemed lost, and the airlines compensate the flyers. Owens then purchases these unclaimed bags by the truckload. The contents, ranging from wearable items to electronics, are cleaned, data-wiped and priced for resale.
"The thing that separates us from a thrift store is thrift stores are things that people, people don't want anymore. These are items that we have that people didn't wanna part with," said Owens.
The store has seen its share of valuable items and sentimental items including a $22,000 Rolex and wedding dresses.
