New Oddities Shop in Cincinnati is the Perfect Spooky Spot to Visit this Weekend

A new oddity/horror shop in Cincinnati offers a variety of unique, rare, “dark aesthetic” items and would make for a great spooky season outing.

Beardo’s Curiosities opened last month in Carthage, on the corner of Vine Street and Paddock Road. “Unique gifts for unusual souls,” is owner Brad “Beardo” Hester’s slogan. It’s a fairly spot-on call to those looking to browse or collect items like horror film memorabilia and merchandise, insect specimens, handmade jewelry, human or animal bones, taxidermy or a Freddy Krueger dildo.

“So pretty much it's a shop about weird things that you can find in weird places,” Hester says. “Usually, we get a lot of antiques that are just kind of unusual or weird, a lot of taxidermy animals. We've got a bunch of human [bones and bone fragments] and just a bunch of weird stuff. Also a lot of horror movie themed stuff. There are only really two stores around the area [that are similar] but they're both pretty spread apart. I kind of noticed that Cincinnati didn't really have anything like it. So I wanted to bring that kind of culture here.”

Beardo’s Curiosities is the newest addition to Cincinnati’s accumulation of oddity stores like Hail Dark Aesthetic, a record and oddity shop in Covington, Ky. and Memento Mori in Loveland.
Hester is a Cincinnati-native and has been creating pinned insect artwork for years. He built upon the business of creating, selling and acquiring those kinds of items to launch Beardo’s Curiosities, which appropriately operates out of an old funeral home. Hester says he often rummages through the back room of the store, where he finds old items from the funeral home to sell or display.

Among the oddest items in Beardo’s inventory are a wet specimen monkey, a taxidermy baboon, a human skull and skull fragments and a human fibula, Hester says. To acquire items of this nature, “you have to know the right people.” Hester spends a lot of time traveling to participate in oddity shows and events, where he makes such connections, he tells CityBeat.

But wait, you’re probably still thinking about that Freddy Krueger dildo, aren't you?

One of Beardo’s Curiosities most interesting, creative and … useful items are his selection of character molded dildos. Made by Harry SFX, who creates “silicone stress relievers,” props and collectables, these pleasure molds appear in some of the spookiest shapes ever. Like Freddy Krueger’s tongue called “Fred Lick Kreuger” (genius), Ghostface of Scream called “Screamdo,” or “The Shape” that is Micheal Myers.

Whether it’s for the brilliant puns or the activities associated, the Harry SFX collection at Beardo’s seems to be worth a browse. Hester also carries handmade jewelry like alligator toe earrings by Gaylormoon.

These items just scratch the surface of what Beardo’s has to offer. During a visit you may run into Deacon the Sphynx shop cat or a tarot card reader. This weekend Beardo’s Curiosities is offering a Halloween special: buy $100 worth of merchandise and get a free gift.

Beardo’s Curiosities is located at 7436 Vine St. in Carthage, and operates from 12 - 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

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