A headless human skeleton sits in a red velvet armchair, and a nearby sign politely asks you not to sit. That alone tells you plenty about this shop.
I love a store with manners and a sense of humor.
The shelves hold mammal skulls, framed insects, fetal armadillos in jars, and bats resting in tiny coffins. Somewhere in the mix, a two-headed cow keeps watch.
Green plants thrive between all of it, which feels oddly cheerful.
This Virginia shop is packed floor to ceiling with oddities and curiosities. Some pieces are for sale, and some are simply there to stare back at you.
I can’t imagine anyone browsing it in under an hour.
So how does a place full of bones end up feeling this welcoming? The answer starts with a black brick building and a grim reaper on the wall.
A Black Brick Shop Where The Grim Reaper Handles Greetings
Rest In Pieces sits in Richmond, Virginia, and it doesn’t exactly blend in. The black brick facade carries white letters spelling out ODDITIES and CURIOSITIES.
A large white grim reaper mural decorates one side of the building. White celestial symbols and occult imagery add a mystical finish to the outside walls.
Big display windows let you peek at the treasures before committing. Consider it a preview for the brave and a warning for the squeamish.
Inside, the shop works as a store for oddities, natural history pieces, and witchy goods. You’ll find skulls, taxidermy, wet specimens, crystals, incense, and plants all sharing the same space.
The business calls itself a source for ethically sourced curiosities. That detail matters a lot here, and it shows up again later in the story.
Google lists the shop as a gift shop, which feels like a wild understatement. Calling it a gift shop is like calling a dragon a large lizard.
Still, gifts are absolutely on the menu. A resin bat, a ram skull, or a framed butterfly would make a memorable present for the right person.
For curious minds in Virginia, the facade does its job well. It practically dares you to open the door.
How A Home Business Grew Into A Richmond Destination
Back in the summer of 2014, Justin Torone and Alaina Gearhart started the business. At first, it ran online and out of their home.
That’s a lot of skulls to keep around the house. Roommates would need strong nerves and a good sense of humor.
In 2015, the pair opened their first small storefront in Richmond’s Fan District. The collection kept growing, and the space soon felt tight.
So in January 2017, the original shop closed for a move. The new and larger location opened that April in the Oregon Hill neighborhood.
Rest In Pieces has stayed there ever since. Over the years, it became what local press describes as a destination-point shop for Richmond visitors.
I like how the growth feels steady rather than flashy. The owners built something odd and personal, then gave it room to stretch.
Justin still comes up in stories about the shop’s custom work. That hands-on connection gives the place a family-run warmth beneath all the bones.
It’s a good reminder that strange passions can turn into lasting businesses. Few home hobbies end with a zebra and a two-headed cow on display.
Your Neighbors Include A Very Famous Cemetery
Location is everything, and this shop picked a fitting one. Rest In Pieces stands about a block from Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Honestly, you couldn’t script a better neighbor for a store full of skulls. A visit to both makes for a moody, memorable afternoon.
The full address is 349 S. Laurel St., Richmond, VA 23220.
It sits in the historic Oregon Hill neighborhood, a funky and artsy corner of the city.
Some sources also connect the shop with Jackson Ward. Either way, you’re in a lively part of town with plenty of character.
Parking happens on a city street, so plan ahead a bit. Park carefully and be kind to the people who live nearby.
That courtesy keeps everyone happy, including the shop. Good neighbors matter, even when one neighbor sells mummified bats.
The area also offers food stops for a break between browsing sessions. Crepes are one tasty option close by if you need fuel.
Pairing the shop with the cemetery feels almost too perfect. Bring comfortable shoes, curiosity, and maybe a camera for the walk over.
Please Don’t Sit With The Headless Skeleton
Every great shop needs a mascot, and this one picked a skeleton. Sadly for him, the skeleton is missing his head.
He sits in a red velvet armchair like he’s waiting for a very long appointment. A taxidermied skunk and a hyena often keep him company.
Nearby, a sign reads Please don’t sit. I appreciate a rule that clearly exists because someone once considered it.
The scene sums up the shop’s personality nicely. It’s spooky, theatrical, and a little bit funny all at once.
Around that chair, the shop fills up floor to ceiling with oddities. The goal is an overwhelming, immersive experience, and the layout certainly delivers it.
Every shelf seems to hide something you missed the first time. Look high, look low, then look again.
You’ll spot a baby zebra, a lemur, and that unforgettable two-headed cow. Bats rest in coffins, and skunks pose like they own the place.
Plants grow among the specimens, which softens the whole room. Life and loss share shelf space here, and the balance feels thoughtful rather than gloomy.
Jars, Wings And Skulls Worth Taking Home
Wet specimens might be the shop’s most jaw-dropping section. Snakes, frogs, fetal armadillos, and fetal possums float in jars like a science lab gone stylish.
Nearby, framed insects add bright color to the darker shelves. Some framed butterflies include information about the bug on the back, which is a lovely touch.
Skulls come in many shapes and sizes. Mammal skulls, horns, antlers, and furs give the room a natural history museum feel.
A ram skull makes a bold gift for the right person. So does a mummified bat, assuming your friend has a good sense of humor.
Jewelry fans have options too. Look for bone jewelry, insect jewelry, and snake scale pieces that look anything but ordinary.
Resin cast bats offer a fun alternative to real specimens. They give you the creepy look without any fuss.
The selection changes often, so the shelves rarely look the same twice. If something catches your eye, grab it before someone else does.
Prices reach across a wide range. Small treasures sit beside serious collector pieces, so most budgets can leave with something wonderfully strange.
Crystals, Tarot And A Cauldron Or Two
Not everything here once had a heartbeat. A whole corner of the shop leans mystical instead of anatomical.
Crystals show up in many forms around the store. Pendulums, tarot decks, and divination tools wait for anyone curious about the unseen.
Incense adds another layer to the experience. Cauldrons sit nearby, ready for spells, decor, or simply looking cool on a bookshelf.
Plants are part of the inventory too. Their green leaves bring life to the shelves and make the room feel less like a crypt.
Books fill out the mix with plenty of unusual reading. Posters, candles, herbs, and vintage pieces round out the choices.
Anatomy posters make great wall art for science fans. They’re a smart pick for anyone who loves biology but lacks room for a zebra.
I like how the store blends nature and folklore so easily. A skull and a crystal end up feeling like old friends.
This part of the shop also works for gentler shoppers. If taxidermy feels like a lot, the witchy shelves offer a softer introduction.
Ethics Come First Behind Every Specimen
Sourcing is a big deal at Rest In Pieces, and the shop is clear about it. Every animal item is described as ethically sourced.
The owners don’t support hunting for taxidermy. Instead, they partner with farms and zoos for animals that passed naturally.
In cooler weather, they also work with roadkill. That keeps animals from going to waste after unlucky trips across the road.
That approach changes how the whole collection feels. Each specimen becomes a careful second chapter rather than a trophy.
Some of the most famous pieces aren’t for sale. Many belong to the owners’ private collection, so read the tags before falling in love.
Other items stay on display simply because selling them would break the law. Selling human bones or organs is illegal in Virginia, for example.
You can still see those pieces up close. The shop works a bit like a museum that happens to have a register.
I respect a business that sets clear limits. It lets shoppers enjoy the weirdness without wondering where it all came from.
Pet Memorials Handled With Remarkable Care
Losing a pet hurts, and this shop offers an unusual way to remember one. Custom preservation is part of the services at Rest In Pieces.
Options include taxidermy and skull preservation. The team also handles wet specimen preservation and articulation work.
Skulls get cleaned with dermestid beetles. These tiny workers clean bone gently and thoroughly, which sounds creepy but works beautifully.
One limit matters before you call. The shop can’t clean bones for pets that were euthanized.
Custom pieces can become deeply personal keepsakes. A mummified tail displayed in a glass cloche is one example of the shop’s creative memorial work.
Grief and taxidermy might seem like an odd pairing. Yet this service puts the team face to face with families at a tender moment.
The shop describes its pet preservation as affordable and easy to arrange. Expect a deposit and some wait time while the work gets done.
I find this side of the business surprisingly moving. Under the spooky decor sits a lot of patience and kindness.
Classes, Prop Rentals And Friendly Faces Behind The Counter
Ever wanted to pin your own butterfly? The shop hosts classes that teach you how to make specimens yourself.
Topics cover entomology, anatomy, and osteology. That’s bugs, bodies, and bones, for anyone who skipped the science vocabulary.
Pinning classes give curious hands something fun to try. You leave with a skill, plus a great story for your next dinner party.
Film crews and photographers have options here too. Rest In Pieces offers prop rentals for movies and photoshoots.
A skull on set can do a lot of storytelling. Renting one beats explaining why you bought a lemur for a single scene.
The staff earns plenty of praise for being friendly and helpful. They know the collection well and can explain pieces both for sale and on display.
Music adds to the mood as you browse. The Smiths have been known to play over the speakers, which feels completely on brand.
Small details like that make a weird shop feel welcoming. You come for bones and stay for the good company.
Plan Your Visit, Then Prepare To Linger
Good news first: admission is free. You can wander the shelves without paying a thing, though your wallet may feel tempted.
The shop opens every day of the week. Tuesday through Saturday runs 11 AM to 6 PM.
Sunday hours are 11 AM to 5 PM. Monday starts a bit later, from noon to 5 PM.
The space is cozy and packed tight. When the room gets busy, aisles can feel crowded, so weekday visits may give you more elbow room.
A wheelchair ramp is available. Reach out to the shop before your visit if you need any special help.
So who will love it most? Fans of the macabre, biology buffs, collectors, and anyone who enjoys a museum with a gift counter.
Squeamish friends might prefer the crystals and books. Still, the shop’s playful tone makes it easy to ease in slowly.
For a strange and wonderful afternoon in Virginia, few stops compare. Walk through that black brick door, say hi to the headless skeleton, and just don’t sit in his chair.
