Wichita’s last military surplus store in danger of closing if it can’t sell

Wichita’s longtime G.I. Rose Military Surplus Etc. at 6310 E. Harry is in danger of closing if owner Rosey Day can’t find a buyer to take it over.

“I would like to sell it and keep it in Wichita because it is the only one, and we are doing a fantastic business,” she said. “Due to some health things, I’ve not been able to be down there.”

Her manager, Kay Doubrava, is going to leave in November, so that’s likely when the store will close.

G.I. Rose opened in 1994.

“When I first started, there was the Command Post and then there was Alpha 1 Drop Zone,” Day said. “They have all closed down.”

It was “a little bit of insanity” that Day said caused her to get in the business.

“I had worked about 13 years for an Army Navy store,” she said.

It was 1973, and the store was near Hillside and George Washington Boulevard.

She left and got an associates degree in the paralegal field and then worked for lawyers for eight years.

A friend had opened a military shop, but it didn’t work out, so she stepped in along with her brother and eventually bought out the man for his furniture and some of his inventory.

Now, Day is trying to sell the business, which includes inventory, furniture and sewing machines with what Day called a great sewer who she said she hopes gets to remain working.

The store sells clothing, military items, camping gear, boots, flags, knives, hunting gear, holsters and survival gear.

Day already has been been trying to sell the business for the last six months.

If it doesn’t sell, she said, “Well, we’ll have to scuttle it.”

Day said for the sake of her customers, she hopes that doesn’t happen.

“People just love us.”