New shop is a realm of oddities

Picture the houses of the Addams family and the Munsters. Now, picture the two spooky homes combined. That’s what it’s like inside Voodoo’s World of Oddtiques, the newest edition in REO Town Marketplace. 

According to John “Voodoo” and Jenifer Harris, owners of the “oddtiques” shop, their house is a mix of the Addams family home and that of the Munsters. And their house is just like their shop. 

The couple, who have been married for 26 years, are fans of all things horror and odd. After a barbecue catering business didn’t work out for them during the pandemic, they went in a different direction — a creepy, kooky direction. 

What started as a Halloween collection eventually grew enough for them to open up a shop to sell their finds. Collectors for nearly 30 years, they  decided to open a shop after traveling around the state’s conventions and flea markets last year. 

As for the name, Harris says “Voodoo” is a longtime nickname of his, which came long before he actually started practicing Voodoo. “Oddtiques” are what the two look to sell in their shop: Oddities and antiques.

“We’re looking for that odd, vintage, old, one-of-a-kind, out-of-production type of item,” Harris said. “Oddtiques fit what I was looking for.”

Jenifer does most of the buying. Harris says she has a “unique eye” for the things they want in the shop, though she often gravitates towards skulls, glassware and handmade crafts. Harris goes for anything medical or funeral-related. 

“We see a little bit of everything,” Harris said. “We get everything, from people who bring in old magazines from their childhood, animal taxidermy, bones, skulls. If you don’t know what it is, you haven’t seen it before, it’s something we want in the shop.” 

Though the goal is to eventually have their own standalone building, the couple is pleased with their spot inside the marketplace. They had a successful opening last month and are looking forward to serving Lansing as the place to go for all things mysterious and spooky.

Voodoo’s World of Oddtiques

Tuesday-Thursday,  11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

REO Town Marketplace

1027 S. Washington Ave., Lansing

Facebook.com/WorldofOddtiques