Michele StuevenTucked between the Mystic Museum and Lucifer’s Pizza on the Horror Row section of Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank is the new frightfully delightful Horror Boodega.
The interactive shotgun space features drinks like Bug Barf, Brain Wash and Weird Tea and oddity snacks like Wicked Minis, Bigfoot Popcorn, Box of Bones Cheetos and giant gummy snakes. The cereal box section includes Franken Berry, Halloween Crunch, Zombie Vanilla Cereal as well as Carmella Creeper and her frightful marshmallow friends.
Every aspect of the store, from its curated selection of horror-themed snacks, drinks, and merchandise to its whimsical decor, pays homage to the nostalgic eras of the ‘80s and ‘90s. There are giant replicas of famous childhood symbols, like a seven-foot-tall My Pet Monster, a Goosebumps One Day at Horrorland replica sign, a 10-foot interactive retro TV replica, and an Alien Xenomorph display bring a playful energy to the cozy space.
Drinks at the Boodega (Michele Stueven)
Erick Yaro, who also owns the wonderfully escapist Mystic Museum, opened the bodega in November with partner Terri Rivera after a year full of personal hurdles.
“Both of our parents passed away, my cat passed away and I had some health issues,” Yaro tells LA Weekly. “Owning a museum is fun and I love it, but I was looking to do something a little more whimsical. Me and Terri talked about a nostalgic look and something that would bring more joy into our lives during hard times. Terri had spent a lot of time in New York and loved going to the neighborhood bodegas, so we merged the two ideas.”
The Horror Boodega was also designed as a space for the community to come together. The venue is available for rentals, birthday parties, and performances that include Yaro’s emo cover band, Too Bad So Sad. Horror movie nights are also planned for the future. “The weirder the better, ” says Rivera. “We’re excited to share our space with other creatives and horror fans.”
Snack stuff (Michele Stueven)
“I like to think it’s a place for your inner child with adult money,” says Rivera, who leans more towards the campy and goofy side of horror. “ Everything that you wanted as a kid and you either couldn’t afford or your parents thought was a waste of money is here. Most of the people who come in here can’t believe we could find these things and it sparks nostalgia in everyone. Even though this store is a quarter the size of the museum, I have more vendors here. I scour through food resellers who carry this spooky stuff year-round. There are some seasonal items, but most of these are made year-round and some are international brands like Swedish Bugs, Japanese Ramen and items from Korea.”
“ We made it a community,” says Yaro of the shop across the street from Pinocchio Italian Restaurant and the Monte Carlo Italian Deli that have been there for more than 50 years. “You start with one store, then another opens and it just becomes this hub for Halloween and horror throughout the year. Parking is easy, no meters. You can easily spend the day just walking up and down the street going to all the different horror-themed and oddity stores and fun restaurants. We wanted to fill the void of snacks and drinks in that same genre.”
The photo booth (Michele Stueven)
Where Nightmares Come To Life (Michele Stueven)
Breakfast of Champions (Michele Stueven)