At Cracker Jax, 118 N. 3rd St., everything’s for sale – even the display cases.

Cracker Jax is a retail store containing products that can be described by its motto: “Fabulous clothing, intuitive gifts, vintage and new jewelry.”

“It’s like a museum where you can buy the stuff,” store manager Carol Callahan said.

Owner Lauren Woods opened the shop 18 years ago. Since then, Woods and her employees have seen the success of the shop first-hand.

One look inside and customers will find themselves surrounded by endless choices of fashion, entertainment and decoration.

The walls of the two-room shop are adorned with hats and clothing, among other things, and antique display cases house tiny, often one-of-a-kind treasures.

“They’ve got all the neat stuff that you never knew existed but always wished that it did,” said Helen Walsh, a sophomore psychology major and Cracker Jax customer.

The store acquires its unique merchandise from vendors from all over the world, as well as from individual consignments.

“My favorite thing I bought from Cracker Jax is my black spider web cape,” Walsh said.

Despite big-name businesses popping up on DeKalb’s north side, Callahan still believes the privately-owned shop deserves a look.

“It’s quite an experience,” Callahan said. “There are so many beautiful things. Last week, I found something in the store that I had never come across since working here.”

The merchandise isn’t the only thing notable about the shop.

“The name is supposed to describe the surprise that you get when you look inside in comparison to the toy that you can find in the Cracker Jack boxes,” Callahan said.

Additional products available at the store include bath products, books, light fixtures, Wicca materials and incense.

“Overall, it looks like a good future for the store,” Callahan said.jenny gembala photo

Cracker Jax, 118 N. 3rd Street, offers shoppers an array of different merchandise ranging from stylish hats, body lotions and decorative rings.