One of my favorite stops on Mickey and I’s latest trip was in Louisville, Kentucky at Jerry’s Junk. I want so badly to have an easy way to explain this place but it really something you just have to see first…
Jerry Lotz is a collector, clearly. He owns five homes in the neighborhood, all of which are packed to the brim with a wide variety of items. The place that draws people in is on the corner of Frankfort and William street. The lawn is covered and when you peek inside the windows (Don’t worry, he lives upstairs) you can see the inside is filled up with odds and ends as well. You could hang around for hours and still keep spotting new things.
Mickey and I just stopped to take photos but soon met Jerry who we ended up spending over two hours with. Jerry showed us around two of his homes, taking us inside to get a closer look at things we might be interested in. He told us stories of his childhood, and told us how his daughters don’t appreciate his collection. We volunteered ourselves up for adoption! He told us how everything he owns has a story behind it and even shared some of the stories. The funniest part is, the whole time he’s talking to us he’s dragging around a rake. It was SO hard to hear.
But really, it was incredible to be able to talk to him and hear all about his collection. Even though I could never see myself amassing a collection like this, there’s just something that draws me into collections and their owners. It’s like I just get it, I understand how it feels to be passionate about weird things.
Even a few spots not specifically on his property were adorned with his things. Below are some things found in the sidewalk.
Above is the man himself, Jerry Lotz.
It was truly one of the most fun experiences ever. Mickey and I each bought a really great “souvenir”, I’ll tell you all about that another day though. Jerry is so very kind. If you’re ever in the area “Jerry’s Junk” is a must visit!
xoxo
All of the photos above were taken with a pentax k1000 and Fujifilm 35mm Superia X-TRA 400.
27 comments
So. Much. Stuff!
Oh wow! Loved this! Favorite things…the bulldog in the sidecar and the awesome cat in the sidewalk by the Coke bottle.
Personally, my favorite has to be the hand holding the light. Definitely wouldn't mind having a pair in my apartment!
They have those at Max and Erma's, but I've never seen them for sale. I agree that it would be cool to own one.
this is just so neat!!! i wonder how it's affected his relationships with his daughters though…
what a collection… so great you got to talk to jerry…
i love those pictures! the sidewalk ones look so cool 🙂
i am already looking forward to seeing the souvenirs!
Oh dear, Jerry has such a magic place, full with treasures! It must be super interesting talk with a person like him
This place looks AMAZING. I feel ya, Jerry.
Wow! What an awesome place! I love people who are so invested in the memories attached to interesting items like these. I'd love to have such a quirky collection one day, but find I don't have the time or willpower. So people who really put the effort into preserving these items are just so great!
Elyse @ Cuddly as a Cactus
I love that objects are placed in the sidewalk! This is going on my places to visit in my life.
Wow, what an incredible collection! It must've been great to have spoken with Jerry and found out all the little stories surrounding each piece ^_^ Wonderful pictures too!
i think i love him. wonder if he is single…
question: i am confused as to whether or not this is a private residence or a business…or both?
It's a private residence.
Oh wow that stuff is incredible, the stuff set into the ground is really awesome <3
The Quirky Queer
I want to go to 'Jerry's Junk'!!!! 🙁
His place on Frankfort Ave was what made me fall in love with Louisville when I transferred there in 2010! It's great you were able to meet him too! Rumor has it the American Picker guys once tried to include his house on one of their episodes, although I am not certain if it's true! 🙂
Yay! Love reading about your adventures in Louisville. I just recently moved to NYC, but Louisville is my hometown 🙂 I have walked by Jerry's place many, many times, but I have never met him.
Have to love a collector like this.. I love the cat brick in the footpath. Sweet.
I'm from KY, living in OR, but this place looks AWESOME!
Woah, this place looks incredible! It's more stuff than I can imagine ever owning but it seems like Jerry has a pretty cool sense of humor to amass so many smile-worthy things.
What a killer place to spend hours and made extra special by a personal tour from the man himself. One of my favorite things in my collection is a arm with a skull hand holding a candle holder. It's bad ass and I love his arm light!
XXOO
i love that place! we go to louisville a few times a year and always stop by. We see Jerry about half of the time and he is always fun to talk to. Did you tell you about making that creepy richard nixon statue of liberty in the front? I have always wanted to go inside! I'm so jealous that you were able too! I can't wait to see what you picked up there!
If you go through louisville again you should stop at joe ley antiques. it is HUGE and weird and expensive but there is tons of cool stuff. Last time we were there we saw a beautiful mint green vintage dental chair that i would have loved to have!
Wow, that looks like an amazing place to go visit. I love finding slightly out of the norm places to see, especially when it involves a weird collection. Have you ever visited Graceland Too in Mississippi? Well worth a visit for the most extreme Elvis memorabilia.
That place looks amazing and Jerry sounds like one cool guy! That's hilarious about the rake. Now I'm dreaming up a Kentucky road trip just to see this place in person 🙂 Definitely on my to-do list!!
Have you been to Joe Ley's Antiques? It's in L'ville too and amazing!
[…] out my post from 2014’s visit to Jerry’s Junk here. You can read more about Jerry’s Junk & find his address […]
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