Surplus Unlimited first opened in 1981, in a small 4,500 square foot store in the Laurel Hill neighborhood of Norwich, CT. We had a staff of 7 people, 3 of which were family; the owner, Joseph Matera, his son Michael and his daughter Susan. Most of our merchandise from New England and New York was not delivered by a freight company, but was personally picked up by Joseph in a van. This enabled us
to increase our variety, however, we were outgrowing our present location. In 1986, land was purchased on West Main Street and Surplus Unlimited moved into its current location. With 3X more square footage, business flourished. Loyal customers followed and new customers came. In the next five years, the Matera family constructed Willow Tree Plaza, home to six businesses. A 17,000 sq ft warehouse was also constructed to add to Surplus Unlimited’s buying power. In 2002, we expanded again, and Surplus Office Furniture was born! This store focuses on heavy discounted desks, chairs, file cabinets, bookcases, tables, and other larger office supplies. While many things have changed since 1981, our core values have not. The buyers of Surplus Unlimited travel across the nation to give our customers the best prices and best buying experience. Our loyal followers look forward to our many special events including our annual shrub and flower sale in May. People love our 30 foot cowboy ( also known as Muffler Man) as he greets costumers entering our store, just as he did many years ago at a gas station in New London. The Matera family is forever grateful for the support of our devoted customers over these years. We believe in supporting local businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and civic clubs to help build the strength of southeastern CT. Surplus Unlimited is a family owned business that is well respected in the heart of Norwich, Ct. Our merchandise is always changing. A common phrase we hear from our customers all the time is "buy it now, because the next time you come to this store, it won't be here"! We are dedicated to great, personal, friendly customer service, and we love to see new faces all the time, as well as loyal fans we have had for over 30 years! Surplus Unlimited is the right store, for right now!
