Good Deals
not your ordinary secondhand store
Story & photos
by Dave Fisher
Specializing in military surplus, owner Bob Buckhaults stocks ‘almost’ everything
ou name it, chances are Bob Buck-
haults has it, especially when it
comes to outdoors gear.
Buckhaults, owner of Good
Deals in John Day, has been at it 21
years and his 600-square-foot sec-
ondhand store reflects a labor of love during that
time. While he started out as a military surplus store
and continues to specialize in military paraphernalia,
he learned a long time ago if you’re going to make
it in this small Eastern Oregon community you have
to diversify. That said, one can find – in addition to
military camouflage – clothing and packs, fishing
poles and reels, tackle, camping gear, knives, horse
tack, DVDs, sprinklers, hand grenades (not live, of
course), even bird houses fashioned from old cow-
boy boots. The list
goes on.
“After 21 years,
As hunting
it’s pretty well
season draws packed in here,”
Buckhaults admits.
near, locals
“I really enjoy the
and hunters
military aspect of it,
from all over but you have to di-
to stay afloat.
stop on their versify
If you don’t, you
way through die.”
The former OTI
John Day.
(Oregon Technical
Institute) graduate
grew up in Southern Oregon in the small town of
Selma, 30 miles south of Grants Pass.
“I can’t tell you how small it was because we
didn’t have a sign with the population on it,” he said
with a laugh.
As a member of the Josephine County fair board,
his dad used to screen military surplus for the county
and that’s how the younger Buckhaults first got in-
terested in all things military. The fair board over the
years garnered a sound stage, tractors, forklifts, hy-
draulic fluid, tires and more… whatever was
needed.
“Military surplus isn’t just camo clothing and
packs. That’s my niche because this is a hunting
town, but the military has everything you can think
of,” said Buckhaults, noting that a lot of the items he
receives from the military are brand new and never
been used.
Y
MyEagleNews.com
While one may think Good Deals is a store for
men, Buckhaults says that’s not necessarily true.
There are a lot of women who hunt, too, and among
the inventory are pots and pans, along with camp
cookware and utensils.
One of the more unique items is birdhouses
made from old worn cowboy boots.
“My dad makes the birdhouses and he sells a lot
of them out of here,” said Buckhaults. “So many,
he can hardly keep up.”
It was his dad who helped him get started years
ago and Buckhaults, to this day, describes it as a
family business.
“It’s been a good business. It’s a lot of hours, but
I can’t really do anything else,” said Buckhaults,
noting injuries have taken their toll over time. Per-
haps the most serious was when a tree fell on him
in his early 20s fracturing his backbone in 13
places.
Still, he enjoys what he does, which helps ex-
plain his longevity.
“I like people and enjoy my customers. I have
some who come in almost on a daily basis.”
As hunting season draws near, business picks
up. Along with the locals, hunters from all over the
state, even out of state, make a point of stopping on
their way through John Day. Many are repeat cus-
tomers Buckhaults sees year in and year out.
“It’s kind of neat,” he said of the seasonal aspect
of his business.
A word of caution, however, to those who rely
on him being open this time of year. Turns out,
Buckhaults is a hunter, as well, and has been known
to hang a sign outside his store reminding cus-
tomers, particularly hunters, to shop early because
he may be out of town himself. Otherwise, his store
at 437-B West Main Street is open seven days a
week during the summer and early fall, 10 a.m. to
5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. Sunday.
Things around town slow down during the win-
ter months and Buckhaults’ business hours reflect
the change of seasons; however, he remains un-
daunted.
“I like the pace here, it’s a nice little town,” he
says of John Day. “It took a long time to be ac-
cepted and after 21 years I’m still at it, but it’s a
great place to raise kids. I grew up in a small
community and I love living in a small community.”
Bob Buckhaults, owner of Good Deals secondhand store in John Day.
A popular item at Good Deals is birdhouses fashioned from old worn cowboy boots.
Grant County Hunting Journal 2015 • 9