Adams Originals Shop, 238 S. Broadway Avenue, Albert Lea, Minnesota
THE CLUTTERED EXTERIOR tipped me off to what I would find inside Adams Originals Shop. Yet, I was not prepared. Not prepared for the mounds of merchandise heaped into this narrow building in historic downtown Albert Lea.
Dolls, dolls and more dolls. Everywhere.
Adams Originals rates as truly original. I’ve never seen a store like it with thousands of dolls and other items crammed onto shelves, set on the floor and piled into every conceivable space.
Just inside the shop and looking toward the front door.
Inside, I simply stood for a minute taking it all in, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of goods displayed along both sides of a single narrow aisle branching into nooks of merchandise.
A Lone Ranger poster for sale.
Much more than dolls pack this shop.
A piece of merchandise showcased outside the store.
You can’t meet another customer in here without sidling sideways. Even on a blustery Monday morning, shoppers stopped by to peruse the goods offered by Eloise and Jack Adams.
Eloise Adams
That’s Eloise, pronounced Eloyce, as in rhyming with Joyce. Eloise doesn’t correct mispronunciations of her name; it happens all too often. It doesn’t seem to bother her. She’s just honored that her dad named her and with the uncommon pronunciation he chose.
An example of the art Eloise creates with labels.
She is as unique as her store, exuding a peaceful calm in her soft-spoken voice and gentle manner. I don’t think you’ll meet a kinder soul. In just a few minutes of conversation, I already felt comfortably at home with this 78-year-old. She speaks with the blessedness of a saint, living her faith. She speaks with the cadence of a poet, her words thoughtful and rhythmic. She speaks with the passion of an artist, for she is an artist. She speaks with the love of a mother and a grandmother and a great grandmother. She is all of those.
Eloise pulled this portrait off the hook so she could read the note about the date it was gifted to someone. I don’t recall details. But I do remember how Eloise lovingly noted the girl’s beautiful blue eyes accented by her blue dress.
In short, Eloise is passionate about life and people and celebrating each day. She didn’t tell me that. She didn’t need to. It shows.
When I asked Eloise about her favorite doll, she politely refused to name one. That would be, she said, like asking her to choose which of her six children is her favorite. It can’t be done.
There’s a whole section of Barbie dolls and Barbie stuff.
Elvis has not left the building.
Lots and lots and lots of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls…
But she’ll share, when asked, how this whole doll collecting thing started. A friend collected dolls and, she said, you can’t hang around too long with a doll collector without getting hooked yourself. The dolls belonging to that friend, who died of cancer, are now housed in the Freeborn County Historical Society Museum after being showcased downtown for many years.
An example of Adams pottery, center, sits among other merchandise.
Although dolls dominate Adams Originals, this shop isn’t solely about dolls. Eloyce and her husband are also artists who produce stoneware pottery, much of it for churches. Chalices. That sort of functional pottery. But there’s decorative pottery, too, like sculpted lions or a dragon, made years ago for a dragon-loving son. Eloise noted that Jack’s shoulders are wearing out, curbing pottery throwing.
An example of Eloise’s Eddie Cochran art.
Pressing Eloise, I learn that she is a Minnesota State University Mankato art major. Prints of her pen and ink art are scattered throughout her shop. She designs art for local celebrations like Big Island Rendezvous and Eddie Cochran Days and will custom create pieces for individual customers.
Second floor windows hint at what’s inside the shop.
Her work is exquisitely detailed. And, Eloise noted, she drew the building that now houses Adams Originals when it was still a bookstore. On the bookstore’s last day, she and Jack stopped by to thank the booksellers for being part of the Albert Lea business community. They learned then that a purchase agreement fell through. The couple needed more space for their business which had outgrown their home. So they bought the booksellers’ building.
Today, at nearly eighty years old, Eloise has no plans to retire. Why? She loves what she does. And that’s a good enough reason to stay in business.
Check back tomorrow to read the third installment in this series from Albert Lea. Click here to read my introductory post.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Wow!!!! And you were there for how long???? Days???? LOL!
A looooooooong time.
What an interesting and amazing woman. I can only imagine the stories she could tell. Did you walk out with a purchase?
Randy did. He bought a vintage Morton salt container with the image of the girl holding the umbrella. I was, however, tempted by all of those dolls. And I really like that blue-eyed girl print. You know me and my vintage art.
BRILLIANT shop.
what did you buy?
I just adore old photos…wondering about who they were, what they imagined for their lives.
Fabulous shots.
hope you are well! xx
I, surprisingly, did not buy anything. I am always tempted by vintage art. The husband bought a treasure. See my reply to Beth Ann’s comment.
Oh My Goodness – So Much Great Stuff to look at and explore – all those dolls are overwhelming a bit to take them all in at once! Happy Exploring – Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
The entire store is overwhelming, but all those dolls especially.
My Aunt would love this place because she does doll restorations.
She would be in doll heaven.
I was waiting for you to zero in on Adams Originals. I knew it would catch your eye. You did well by it.
Thank you, Greg. Meeting Eloise was as delightful as touring the store.
That is a whole lot of dolls. I always thought it was hi ho silver (not hi-yo)?
I thought the same, hi ho.
Another awesome store to wander through. I love the Raggity Ann dolls. I remember playing with some that had belonged to my Grandmother
Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls galore fill a section of Adams. They are a timeless doll.
What an interesting place, but I’m afraid I would have to avoid the dolls. I never was a “doll” kind of girl – they always seemed strange to me – the blank look and all. But I see so much to pilfer through in that store! I think I’d be happy just to visit with Eloise and listen to some of her stories. I loved your description of her.
You would love Eloise.
I love this store. Before we moved last year, I had around 500 dolls ranging in sizes between 1 inch, and 4 ft. It has been very difficult downsizing these dolls. I would probab ly spend all day in that shop. Love it!
Five hundred dolls. Wow. I can only imagine how difficult it was to downsize your collection. Yes, you would love this shop with all the dolls.
Oh my, one could spend hours and hours in this shop. It was fun looking at all the items in your photos, was it overwhelming, I dont see how they could take one more item, those shelves are FULL!
Overwhelming it was.
If hubby and I visited this store, hubby would be in and out in a few minutes. I on the other hand would be looking at each shelf, looking for that golden gem. Love going to these type of stores. My, but what a collection of dolls Eloise has – beautiful and some looking so lonely and in need of a good home!
Thankfully my husband can poke around stores like this sometimes longer than me. I agree that some of these dolls really look like they need a home.
[…] “She is as unique as her store, exuding a peaceful calm in her soft-spoken voice and gentle manner. I don’t think you’ll meet a kinder soul. In just a few minutes of conversation, I already felt comfortably at home with this 78-year-old. She speaks with the blessedness of a saint, living her faith. She speaks with the cadence of a poet, her words thoughtful and rhythmic. She speaks with the passion of an artist, for she is an artist. She speaks with the love of a mother and a grandmother and a great grandmother. She is all of those.” For the full story click here. […]
You described Eloise so eloquently. She truly is exactly as you described her!
Sharie, thank you. It means a lot to me that I captured Eloise’s personality in this post.
I visited this store many times and spent hours there. I would visit my granddaughters and I would visit the store. The lady that owed it was so nice and always patient with me. I came to look for Precious Moments. I was never let down. Love this store.
So happy you have wonderful memories of Adams Originals. Welcome to the comments section, Deb. Happy to have you here.
I have beautiful designer dolls, would like to find a buyer. If you know of any contacts for me, please send me an email
I’m sorry, Paulette, but I don’t have any contacts. Readers?