The Leftorium

The Leftorium was a store located in the Springfield Mall that specialized in products made especially for left-handed people.

Profile

The Leftorium was owned by Ned Flanders, who had quit his job as a pharmaceutical company clerk to open the store. At first, business at the Leftorium was very poor, due to Homer's secret wish that Flanders' store would go out of business. Homer got his wish and the Flanders family were forced to sell their personal possessions (much of which Homer purchased at a cost of $75); the bank repossessed the Flanders home; and the store was about to close. Homer later regretted making this wish and never telling any of his friends who were in need of left-handed items about The Leftorium. To atone for his misdeeds, Homer manages to get everyone he knows in town to shop at Ned's store, effectively saving it from bankruptcy. The Leftorium was looted by a mob after a hurricane struck Springfield.^[1]

The Leftorium had continued to trade profitably since. However, there have been episodes during which Flanders mentioned the store was not doing so well. Ned once mentioned that he purchased most of his personal possessions cheaply to make up for his store's lack of business.^[2] Ned also mentioned that a left-handed megastore that had recently opened, Left-Mart, is threatening his business.^[3] It has bullet proof windows. Some people consider the store a "rip-off" due to some items only being labeled as "left-handed" without truly being manufactured solely for left-handers, e.g., left-handed remote controls, left-handed pens, left-handed cellphones, etc. Eventually Ned had to downsize to a simple kiosk, the Leftorium Express, due to the success of a nearby full-sized competitor, Southpaw Superstore.^[4] However, in the episode "Opposites A-Frack", Ned was seen working in his full-sized store once again without a continuity explanation.

Finally, the Leftorium went out of business due to being unable to compete with online shopping, and Ned struggled to maintain a job until he joined Springfield Elementary School as the new fourth-grade teacher.^[5]

Behind the Laughter

The abundance of left-handers in Springfield is likely due to the show's creator, Matt Groening, being himself left-handed. Groening revealed in the DVD commentary for "When Flanders Failed" that about 1 in 3 Springfieldians are left-handed, as compared to about 1 in 9 in real life.

Appearances

• Episode – "When Flanders Failed"
• Episode – "Bart's Comet" (Mentioned)
• Episode – "Hurricane Neddy"
• Episode – "In Marge We Trust"
• Episode – "Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo" (mentioned)
• Episode – "Last Tap Dance in Springfield" (cameo)
• Episode – "A Star Is Born-Again"
• Episode – "Dude, Where's My Ranch?" (mentioned)
• Episode – "Home Away From Homer" (mentioned)
• Episode – "Sex, Pies, and Idiot Scrapes"
• Episode – "The Great Wife Hope" (billboard mention)
• Episode – "Opposites A-Frack"
• Episode – "Left Behind"
• Video game – The Simpsons Road Rage

Reference

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1987 Calendars!!! • All Creatures Great and Cheap • Bikini Shop • Books • Captain Blip's Zapateria • Carmel Corn Warehouse • The China Syndrome • Cockamamie's • Crazy E.T.'s Phone Home • Da Buzz Club • Dingo Junction • Donner's Party Supplies • Dr. Zitsofsky's Dermatology Clinic • Dukakis Campaign H.Q. • The Ear Piercery • Electronics, Etc. • Eye Caramba • The Family Jewels • Girdles N' Such • Goody New Shoes • Hailstone's • Hair Clinic • The Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor • I Can't Believe It's A Law Firm! • In 'N' Out Ear Piercing • International House of Answering Machines • I.P.O. Friday's • Itchy & Scratchy's • The Jerky Hut • Kidstown USA • Leftorium • Mapple Store • Nick's Bowling Shop • Phineas Q. Butterfat's 5600 Flavors Ice Cream Parlor • Plunderer Pete's • The Popcorn Shack • Rock Bottom Remainders • Ron's Meat • Sox • The Sole Provider • Springfield Hunting Supplies • Springfield Martial Arts Academy • Sweet Home Alabama • Tatters • The Tam O'Shanter Connection • Tommy Hillclimber • Toys • The Vast Waistband • Wee Monsieur • Wicked Excess
Food Court:	Crouching Tiger Hidden Eggroll • Coffee Shop • Greek Town • Moe's Express • Pizzeria Cheapo • Odd Ones • The Picky Vegan

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Shops and Restaurants
The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop • The Frying Dutchman • The Gilded Truffle • Herman's Military Antiques • Jake's Unisex Barbershop • Lard Lad Donuts • Luigi's • King Toot's Music Store • Krusty Burger • Kwik-E-Mart • Moe's Tavern • Phineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor • Grocery Store • Springfield Mall (The Leftorium)
Residential
82 Evergreen Terrace • 740 Evergreen Terrace • 742 Evergreen Terrace • 744 Evergreen Terrace • Apu's apartment • Barney's apartment • Burns Manor • Skinner's House • Spinster City Apartments • Springfield Retirement Castle • Van Houten House • Wiggum house
Public
Aztec Theater • Barney's Bowlarama • Channel 6 • Department of Motor Vehicles • Duff Brewery • First Bank of Springfield • First Church of Springfield • Krustylu Studios • Legitimate Businessman's Social Club • Noise Land Video Arcade • Old Springfield Library • Sleep-Eazy Motel • Springfield Cemetery • Springfield City Zoo • Springfield Convention Center • Springfield Downs • Springfield Drive-In • Springfield Elementary School • Springfield General Hospital • Springfield Glen Country Club • Springfield International Airport • Springfield Natural History Museum • Springfield Nuclear Power Plant • Springfield Public Library • Springfield Squidport • Springfield Tire Yard • Springfield Town Hall • Springfield Town Square • Springfield War Memorial Stadium • Ye Olde Off-Ramp Inn
Crime and Punishment
Springfield County Court House • Springfield Penitentiary • Springfield State Prison • Springfield Police Station
Natural landmarks
Alkali Flats • Lake Springfield • Mt. Springfield • Springfield Gorge