by Rachel Green
Daily Lobo
Anyone can be like James Bond or Austin Powers. That is if they pick up some spy tools from the Spy Shop.
Mark Perea, owner of the Spy Shop, said he wants people to take his shop seriously.
"The previous owner intended to have only real spy stuff, but it was mostly novelty stuff, and I'm changing it into a real spy shop," he said.
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Perea said he heard about the shop from the previous owner. When that owner no longer wanted the shop, Perea took over. Perea was previously a car salesman, a teacher and a ticket salesman.
"Selling tickets was a hardcore lesson in business," he said. "What I'm doing now is a lot easier than anything I did in a two-to-three-hour event. It was a crash course into business."
The store carries wireless cameras, phone bugs and peephole reversers in addition to novelty items such as books with hidden compartments, safes disguised as spray cans and telephone voice transformers.
UNM student Stephanie Olive said she enjoys the shop.
"I think the spy cameras are cool," she said. "A lot of the stuff is really creative. I think most people would probably buy the cans (spray can safes)."
The shop also sells a photo spray blocker, which is supposed to conceal license plate numbers from cameras set up at intersections.
Central New Mexico Community College student Nick Lucero, a regular customer at the shop, purchased the photo blocker to put on his license plate.
"The store is awesome, because where can you find stuff like this?" he said. "It's really unique."
None of the merchandise in the store requires a permit or license to purchase, Perea said.
He said people come to the store looking for home-defense equipment, such as pepper spray or hidden cameras.
"I want people to know that I'm personally committed - which means that the business is committed - to law-abiding citizens defending themselves, their family, people they care about and their rights from criminals of all types," Perea said.
Perea said the prices are standard for most of his equipment.
"The advantage from buying it in my store is that you don't have to wait five days for shipping," he said. "You can touch it and look at it, while you can't do that at stores like Radio Shack."
UNM student Jason Nye said it was the first time he had visited a spy shop.
"I think it's interesting. I've never seen anything like it before," Nye said.
Perea said he bought the store because he is a James Bond fan and has always been interested in spy equipment.
"I think I've made what a small spy shop in Nob Hill should be,"
he said.
Spy Shop
3023 Central Ave. N.E.
Monday to Thursday
11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday
Noon-5 p.m.
