When most people talk about retail therapy, they don't usually mean going to the nearest market and purchasing an odd medical device that's circa the 1890s. Oddities, for many, are exactly what a good shopping trip entails, however. Sure, flea markets and antique shops hold surprises from previous eras that delight and intrigue the mind, but there's nothing like walking into a true oddities market and knowing that everything in it will be unique, special, and strange.
These markets and shops are especially common in the US where those so inclined have procured the most unusual of items that keep oddities lovers coming back for more. It's not every day that someone has access to something slightly morbid and altogether intriguing, even it if does make for a somewhat uneasy conversation... for those who don't understand the world of oddities, that is. And for those who do, the items are akin to the most precious designer handbag or the top-selling game of the year.
Memento Mori
Memento Mori is a gem in Loveland, Ohio, and is filled with items that the shop's owner, Greg Johns, scours the world for. It's the mission of the shop to find 'unusual, morbid or shocking' items to fill the shelves with, much to the delight and (good) horror of many.
One step into this shop reveals how much is truly weird in the world, including strange vintage surgical tools, embalming items, carnival and freakshow merchandise, vintage toys, taxidermy, and even occult items. Memento Mori promises a wild ride and the chances are if you're seeking it, this shop definitely has it in weird one form or another.
Uncommon Objects
The incredible thing about Uncommon Objects is the fact that this shop consists of 24 antique sellers that have come together to provide an experience like no other. There's a real sense of oddity history here as you peruse each shelve and aisle, slightly uncertain and eager to see what waits around every turn.
According to their website, "Uncommon Objects has been described as 'your eccentric uncle’s attic on steroids.' And remember, this is no museum. This stuff is for sale. As the ultimate 'green' shopping experience, there is something to satisfy your nostalgic yearnings and peak your sentimental curiosities." This shop is located in Austin, Texas, and they also participate in the Uncommon Flea, which has dates TBD in 2021.
Scott's Vintage Antiques And Collectibles
Scott's Vintage Antiques and Collectibles can be explained simply as just a good 'ol time. There's something in every corner of this shop and the second you start looking at one thing, you'll be noticing another thing entirely, making it easy to spend an entire day sorting through all of these oddities.
From the creepiest dummies to truly vintage and weird things not often seen outside of movies, Scott's Vintage Antiques and Collectibles probably has it... and plenty of things you're not expecting to find. This great, funky shop is located in North Aurora, Illinois.
The Evolution Store
The Evolution Store was founded in 1991 in SoHo, New York City. The shop itself is family-owned and has been passed down a generation, all the while curating unique items and decor that has never been found anywhere else.
The shop provides one of the most expansive online shopping experiences for those who aren't located near the city but for those who are, one trip to The Evolution Store will have you wondering how your slightly strange life existed without it. From meteorites to mounted specimens and all things anatomy, there's something in this shop for everyone.
Obscura Antiques & Oddities
Some might be familiar with Obscura Antiques & Oddities thanks to the show Oddities and those are, already know this store was once located in Manhattan, New York. From real bone dice to antique decor, Obscura Antiques & Oddities offers the best of both worlds in terms of vintage finds and all things unusual.
According to the shop's website, they carry "the strange, the odd, and the bizarre" all in one convenient location. For those interested in shopping Obscura, it can now be done virtually as the shop itself has moved online. While there's no longer a physical shop to spend days idling away in, fans of the strange will be just as entranced with Obscura's online offerings.
Wooly Mammoth Antiques And Oddities
Wooly Mammoth Chicago is truly more of an experience than a shopping trip. According to the shop's site, they are "a curiosity cabinet of odd, amusing & eclectic items resurrected from the past. We specialize in vintage & antique taxidermy, anatomy items, medical stuffs, books, toys, skulls, and more..."
No weird appetite goes unfed for anyone who enters the doors of this shop, and there are so many items to get lost among that it feels like more of a museum than an actual store.