Sign for Voodoo's World of Oddtiques, photographed Jan. 22, 2022.
—Fans of horror have a new must-stop shop in Lansing.
Voodoo’s World of Oddtiques held its grand opening this Saturday, welcoming guests to embrace all things weird and spooky. The opening at the REO Town Marketplace was celebrated with guest speakers, tarot readings, lectures and a raffle. The store opening brings a longtime hobby to life for owners John Ross and Jenifer Harris.
Voodoo’s came to fruition after Ross and Harris had to close the doors of a barbecue business they ran together, due to difficulties caused by the pandemic. When considering other business options, they decided to fully lean into what they love — the fun and freaky world of horror.
Harris said she has enjoyed horror ever since her childhood.
“It was at a young age,” Harris said and recalled watching horror movies with her father. “That’s when I started to just really fall in love with the different, the scary and all that.”
When Harris met Ross, they bonded over their shared enthusiasm for the scary. After getting married and having a child together, they started writing a horror magazine — ScreamCraft Magazine — as a way to honor their hobby.
Opening Voodoo’s World of Oddtiques was a natural evolution of this interest.
“We’ve always been in love with this stuff, our house kind of looks like this,” Harris said, gesturing at the store full of crocheted voodoo dolls, vintage medical equipment and funerary artifacts.
The couple’s personal collection of memorabilia expanded to a point where they attended flea markets and oddities shows.
“We just felt like we wanted to be more brick-and-mortar, so this is our first stepping stone,” Harris said.
“Oddtiques” comes from the combination of oddities and antiques, and Harris finds these unique items through searching at places like auctions, and artists who supply the store’s handmade selection. Ross and Harris themselves DIY many of the products, as well.
Additionally, Harris said they like to source pieces locally.
“We do like supporting local artists," Harris said. "We do have pieces from local people."
Also, as a bonus, none of the items are haunted — at least, as far as Harris is aware.
“I mean, it’d be cool!” she said with a laugh. “I can’t promise that they’re not!”
Animal science senior Brienna Shear, the lead investigator and chairman of membership for Michigan State University's Paranormal Society, attended the grand opening.
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“We’re all interested in oddities and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this will be so cool to come see!’” Shear, who attended with her friends, said.
