You walk into a shop on Avenue A and the first thing you see is a two-headed calf staring back at you with glass eyes. It’s not a movie set. It’s not a joke. It is Obscura Oddities New York, or as the locals and die-hard collectors just call it, Obscura. This place is weird. Honestly, it’s beyond weird; it is a localized pocket of the 19th-century macabre sitting right in the middle of a neighborhood that is rapidly becoming a sea of overpriced matcha lattes and glass-fronted condos.
If you’ve spent any time in the city, you know that the "Old New York" people mourn is mostly gone. But Obscura Antiques & Oddities stays. It’s survived the hyper-gentrification of the East Village because it offers something the internet can’t replicate: the tactile, slightly uncomfortable reality of the physical world.
The Reality of Obscura Oddities New York
Most people first heard of the shop through the Discovery Channel show Oddities. That was a different era of television, back when reality TV actually felt like you were peeking into a niche subculture. Mike Zohn and Evan Michelson, the owners, became the faces of a movement that made taxidermy and medical instruments "cool" again.
But here is the thing. The shop isn't a museum. It is a retail space. Everything has a price tag, even the things you aren't sure you should be allowed to own.
Walking through those doors is an exercise in sensory overload. You might find Victorian mourning jewelry made of human hair. You might find a prosthetic limb from the 1940s. There are often dental molds, jars of preserved specimens, and more glass eyes than you’d ever care to count. It’s dense. It’s dusty. It smells like old paper and sawdust.
Why do we care about the macabre?
Psychologically, places like Obscura Oddities New York tap into a deep-seated human curiosity about mortality. We’re obsessed with the things that remind us we’re made of meat and bone. When you hold a 100-year-old skull, you aren't just looking at an object. You’re looking at a person’s history. It’s heavy. Literally and metaphorically.
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Collectors aren't usually "creepy" people. They’re historians. They are preservationists. They see the beauty in a perfectly preserved pufferfish or the mechanical genius of an antique medical device designed to treat an illness we’ve long since cured.
The East Village Context
The East Village has changed. A lot.
In the 70s and 80s, the neighborhood was the epicenter of punk and grit. Now, it’s where NYU students grab brunch. Amidst this shift, Obscura stands as a bastion of the "strange." It’s located at 110 Avenue A. That’s prime real estate. Keeping a shop full of mummified cats and apothecary jars open in that location is a minor miracle of small business endurance.
They moved from their original smaller location years ago, but the vibe remained intact. You won't find neon "Instagrammable" signs here. The lighting is dim. The aisles are narrow. If you're claustrophobic, you might want to take a deep breath before heading to the back of the store.
The "Oddities" Effect on the Market
Ever since the show aired, the market for "dark" antiques exploded. What used to be junk found in an attic is now a high-ticket item at auction houses. This has made the job of sourcing items for Obscura much harder.
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Mike and Evan have talked openly in various interviews about the hunt. It’s not about just buying stuff; it’s about finding the right stuff. They look for items with "soul." An old surgical kit is fine, but a surgical kit with a documented history of use in a specific Civil War hospital? That’s gold.
What to Expect if You Visit
Don't go in expecting a theme park. It’s a quiet place. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, but they aren't there to entertain you with "spooky" stories unless you’re a serious buyer or asking genuine questions.
- Price Points: You can find a $5 postcard or a $5,000 piece of taxidermy. It’s surprisingly accessible for casual tourists, but the serious pieces are investments.
- Ethics: This is important. There are laws. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, for instance, makes it illegal to sell certain bird feathers or parts. Obscura is professional; they know the legalities of what they sell. They don't deal in modern "poached" items. It’s about antiquity.
- Space: It is tight. Do not bring a giant backpack. You will knock over a jar of something expensive or fragile. Just don't do it.
Common Misconceptions
People think everything in there is cursed. It isn't. It’s just old.
Another big misconception is that the shop is only for "Goth" kids. That’s just not true. You’ll see interior designers looking for a "statement piece" for a Chelsea loft. You’ll see medical students fascinated by historical pathology. You’ll see grandmas looking for Victorian buttons.
The Future of the Strange in NYC
New York is losing its character at an alarming rate. We see it every day. The "Disneyfication" of Manhattan is real. Places like Obscura Oddities New York are essential because they provide friction. They are weird. They are inconvenient. They don't fit into a corporate template.
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If you want to support the real culture of the city, you visit these places. You buy a weird tooth. You buy a vintage circus poster. You keep the weirdness alive.
Taking the Next Steps
If you’re planning a trip to see Obscura Oddities New York, do yourself a favor and do a little prep work.
Check their current hours before you trek over to Avenue A, as they can sometimes fluctuate based on filming or buying trips. While you're in the area, walk a few blocks over to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space or Tompkins Square Park to get a full sense of the neighborhood’s history.
If you're looking to start your own collection, start small. Look for "cabinet of curiosity" staples like framed insects or vintage daguerreotypes. These are affordable entry points that don't require the maintenance of a full-sized taxidermy mount. Most importantly, talk to the owners if they're around. The wealth of knowledge they have regarding the provenance of their items is worth more than the objects themselves.
The real value of Obscura isn't just the "stuff"—it's the reminder that the world is still a mysterious, slightly unsettling, and deeply fascinating place.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit:
- Bring Cash and Card: While they take cards, smaller items are sometimes easier to handle with cash.
- Ask About Provenance: If you see something that catches your eye, ask where it came from. The story is often more interesting than the object.
- Respect the Items: Many of these things are incredibly fragile. If there is a "do not touch" sign, take it seriously.
- Explore the Perimeter: Some of the best finds are tucked into the highest shelves or hidden in drawers near the floor.
Keep the East Village strange. Visit often. Buy something weird.