I went to college not far from that shop and I shared a class with a former local police officer. We were discussing meth production (I can't remember how the topic casually came up in a Spanish class) and he said the cops almost always have people stationed outside the store. They are quite aware the place sells all of the needed equipment and some of the materials necessary for making meth.
I doubt the veracity of your classmates statement. Besides, laboratory equipment of all sizes and shapes are now sold through national hardware chains.
Unfortunately he's probably spot-on. In Texas, the glassware itself is illegal to own without registering it with the state Department of Public Safety.
