Happy haunting year-round
AT THESE 13 SHOPS, GHOULS AND GOBLINS HANG OUT BEYOND HALLOWEEN.
FOR HALLOWEEN enthusiasts, finding a store that celebrates spooky season 365 days a year is as exhilarating as watching their favorite scary movie. ¶ For the local spooky community, an unwavering Halloween spirit transcends Oct. 31. ¶ Spooky stores bring people together through nostalgia and a mutual love for the strange and unusual. From South Gate to Woodland Hills, here are creative small businesses that dare to embrace their love for All Hallows’ Eve all year round.
1
Del and Sue Howison opened Dark Delicacies in December 1994, bringing the horror scene to Southern California with an emporium that lives up to its name and is unlike any other. Known as “America’s Home of
Horror,” the shop is beloved for its phenomenal selection of horror books, but its shelves also are filled with collectibles, physical media, apparel and signed memorabilia.
Dark Delicacies regularly hosts events with horror industry professionals, including filmmakers, authors, composers, actors and special effects artists. Check its website for signings, and prepare to meet like-minded horror fanatics.
822 N. Hollywood Way,
Burbank, (818) 556-6660, darkdel.com; open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through
Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
2
The Mystic Museum
Located on Burbank’s “Horror
Row,” the Mystic Museum has been uniting generations of horror fans and
Halloween enthusiasts since 2012. Owners Kiko
Bailey and Erick Yaro
Wessel have made the shop a go-to destination with their themed immersive exhibits and wicked cool merchandise, from tarot decks and candles to novelty memorabilia and stylish, spooky apparel.
(They recently launched a mental health charity line with merchandise that reads, “Introverted but willing to discuss horror movies.”) If you visit on a
Saturday, you can expect palm readings and food trucks, usually the
Frankenstand. Sister stores Camp Horror and
Bearded Lady Vintage &
Oddities are attached, so you get three stores — and three different retail experiences — all in one place.
The Mystic Museum also has a second location three blocks away at 2815
W. Magnolia Blvd., currently featuring a vintage horror toy exhibit.
3204 W. Magnolia Blvd.,
Burbank, (818) 433-7530, beardedladysmystic museum.square.site; open
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and
Saturday
3
Halloween Depot
Halloween Depot has hard-to-find items that’ll make your local Spirit Halloween weep. Recognized as “the
Halloween Superstore,”
Halloween Depot is a family-run shop started by brothers Tony and
Jesse Martinez in 2011. The store has high-quality collectibles, costumes, inflatables, clothing, accessories and more than 500 styles of masks.
Halloween Depot also hosts pop-up events — its most popular is “Horcarries
Dark Delicacies
rorville” — with special guests and vendors. Expect to get lost in the inventory for at least an hour.
13422 Paramount Blvd., South Gate, (562) 495-6509, halloweendepot usa.com; Halloween season hours are 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; otherwise 12 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
4
Coolsville USA Coolsville USA has an array of unique items that are to die for, including custom home decor, art and fashion pieces. Manny and Laurie Cordova started their business, formerly known as Spitfire Interiors, in 2001 so others could transform their abode into the home of their dreams — or nightmares. Coolsville is known for its makeup vanities, tables, lamps and shelving (typically available in webbed or bat designs in purple, black or red). The store also has an impressive collection of horror tees, posters and handbags.
1428 W. Beverly Blvd., Montebello, (562) 968-8827, coolsvilleusa.myshopify.com; open 12 to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
5
Ghoulish Delights
Nestled in Woodland Hills’ French Quarter plaza, this spooky haven is a must-visit if you’re looking for vintage Halloween products or anything wonderfully weird, like antiques, curios, jewelry and art. Despite its macabre theme, the store’s atmosphere is beyond inviting. The owner, 24-year-old Vanessa Valenzuela, is a longtime collector and thrifter who opened Ghoulish Delights in February 2022 and has already brought artists and vendors with an affinity for the odd and unexplainable together through the store’s frequent “Ghouls Night Out” markets. Ghoulish Delights is an extension of Valenzuela’s home, with every product carefully hand-selected. There are many items on the store’s website, but there’s even more to see in person.
20969 Ventura Blvd., Unit 101, Woodland Hills, (818) 914-4965, ghoulish delights.square.site; open 12 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
6
Hollywood Toys & Costumes
Located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Toys & Costumes has been a onestop shop for the public’s and entertainment professionals’ dress-up needs for more than 70 years. This iconic establishment a vast selection of adults’ and children’s costumes, masks, wigs, makeup, novelties and collectibles. With nearly 100,000 products in store, you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for, from fake body parts and realistic prosthetic appliances to full-sized costumes and unique props. (But choose carefully, as all sales are final.) To add to its overall spookiness, the Hollywood Toys & Costumes building was featured on the Travel Channel’s reality show “Ghost Adventures” last year for its suggested paranormal activity.
6600 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, (800) 5543444, hollywoodtoysand costumes.com; open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., except
Sunday, when it opens at 10:30 a.m.
7 Bewitched Wicker
’Tis always the season to be spooky at Bewitched Wicker, no matter if it’s Feb. 14 or Oct. 31. You’ll find all the witchy clothing and home decor you could ever need at this quaint Montebello shop, run by the wife-and-husband team of Valerie Ramirez and Tony Janesin. From pumpkin oil burners and ghostshaped oven mitts to Victorian era-inspired dresses and unisex spooky T-shirts, you’ll find all your enchanting essentials here. It also offers a selection of incense, crystals and candles. Every nook and cranny of the store is full, so you’ll likely come across something you’ll love (and have to have).
510 W. Whittier Blvd., Montebello, bewitched wicker.com; open 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
8 SugarMynt Gallery
Fans of the “Halloween” franchise will be psyched to know SugarMynt Gallery is next door to the original Michael Myers house and within walking distance to several of the 1978 classic’s filming locations, like the famous hedge and hardware store. The gallery has a free section in the front with contemporary artwork and gifts available for purchase. Admission to see works from local artists and props from the films is $20 per person. SugarMynt Gallery hosts monthly events, movie nights and a “Scarebnb,” a horrorthemed room available to rent on Airbnb.
810 Meridian Ave., South Pasadena, (626) 222-7257, sugarmynt.com; open 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 12 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday
9 Vixen by Micheline Pitt
Gothic meets glam at this standout vintage clothing shop. Owner Micheline Pitt is a designer, director, writer and artist who merged her love for elegant garments and the horror genre. Expect to find drop-dead gorgeous clothing and accessories, including wicked swing dresses, spiderweb gloves, novelty bags, cat-eye sunglasses and much more. The shop has collections from famous horror films, including “Trick ’r Treat,” “Pet Sematary” and “IT,” among other beloved Halloween flicks. Clothing sizes range from XS to 4X. Pitt also started a campaign, “#VIXENNOT AVICTIM,” that pledges her company will donate a minimum of 30% of all sales from the collection to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network),
with 93 cents of every dollar donated going “directly to helping survivors and preventing sexual violence.”
2317 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, micheline pitt.com; open 12 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday
10 Rubix
This familyfriendly shop in South Gate has something for horror fans of all ages, even infants. As soon as you set foot in the store, you’re welcomed by the scent of sage and an abundance of cute and creepy products, including retro horror movie tees, killer art prints, unique knickknacks and spooky home decor. Kiddos will love the wide selection of outfits, sippy cups, pacifiers, stickers and plushies. There’s also an anime section. Owner Yocelyn Gonzalez, a.k.a. “Yoshi,” opened Rubix five years ago and just opened a second location at 1108 E. Artesia Blvd. in Long Beach.
3325 Tweedy Blvd., South Gate, (562) 850-4162, @rubix_shop; open 12 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday
11
Memento Mori Where else can you find taxidermy cane toads, two-headed ducklings and handmade masks that use real human hair and teeth? Artists Bradley and Deirdre Hartman opened this Hollywood oddities shop in 2014. The space is jam-packed with more than 1,000 items: dark art, old photography, Día de Muertos figurines, pop culture candles, divination supplies, jewelry, books and entomology boxes, not to mention coffee and tea. And Memento Mori’s morbidly exquisite, one-of-a-kind items make the best ghostly gifts. The store hosts events and art classes for lovers of the macabre and occult.
1507 Wilcox Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 962-7834, mementomori-la.com /shop; open 12 to 6 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday
12
Halloween Town No matter what time of year it is, it instantly feels like Halloween the moment you set foot in Halloween Town. Open for more than 20 years, this dimly lit Burbank shop’s interior looks and feels like you’re walking into Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. It’s filled with horror-moviethemed apparel, vinyl and toys as well as Halloween yard props, lights and vintage decor. The setup is well-organized, making it a breeze to browse this one-stop shop. Fans of metal musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie will gravitate toward his autographed posters, DVDs and collectibles for his films, including “Halloween,” “House of 1,000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects.” Put your phone away, though; no photos are allowed inside.
Halloween Town’s sister store, Halloween Town Costumes, is a block away at 3021 W. Magnolia Blvd. Online orders are on hold until mid-November, according to its website, so if you want something from Halloween Town before Oct. 31, you’ll have to visit in person.
2921 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, (818) 848-3642, halloweentownstore.com; Halloween Town open
12 to 7:30 p.m. Monday
through Tuesday,
11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday; Halloween Town Costumes open 12 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 12 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
13 North Halloween
Brother-andsister team Eric and Yvonne Navarro brought horror to North Hollywood in April, offering a variety of affordable products for Halloween fiends to enjoy. You’ll find matching parent-and-child horror movie and band tees (with adult sizes ranging from small to 3XL), handcrafted spooky bags and kids’ costumes. The shop also sells novelty items, such as horror villain candles, canvas drawings and greeting cards. All products are available for shipping.
You can make it an especially spooky NoHo excursion by visiting North Halloween, then creeping on over to City Vibes Coffee, a horrorthemed coffee shop, located less than a mile away at 5251 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.
11142 Burbank Blvd., Suite C, North Hollywood, (818) 308-7668; open 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12 to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.