- Attraction: Ghoulish Mortals
- Location: 228 W Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174
- Industry: Specialty Store
- Website: https://www.ghoulishmortals.com/
Ghoulish Mortals opened in April 2018, created by the husband-and-wife team of Warwick Price and Dove Thiselton after they moved from California and realized the Chicago area lacked quality horror retail stores.
The name comes from Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride, which references “foolish mortals” – a perfect nod to the whimsical yet spooky atmosphere they’ve created.
What started as a simple idea has blossomed into Chicago’s favorite monster & horror retail store, oozing with creepy artist created products.
You’ll discover this isn’t your typical seasonal Halloween shop. Price emphasizes “We’re not a Halloween store.
We’re a horror and monster store”, catering to fans who embrace the dark side year-round. The moment you step inside, haunting organ music leads you down the quaint downtown sidewalks and into the dark mysterious doors, setting the stage for an adventure that feels part retail therapy, part immersive experience.
Related
More in Illinois
Inside Evanston’s Barn Steakhouse Where Rich Leather Chairs, Glowing Lights, And Perfectly Cooked Steaks Await
Keep Exploring →Themed Sections That Transport You
Stranger Things Living Room: You’ll travel through an 80s living room inspired by Stranger Things, complete with a “Stranger Things” alphabet board and life-size Demogorgon monster, which Thiselton spent 30 to 40 hours hand-crafting herself. The attention to detail makes you feel like you’ve stepped directly into the Upside Down.
Haunted Mansion Experience: You’ll explore a haunted mansion section that captures all the classic charm of ghostly manor houses.
One kid-friendly area is filled with decor resembling the Haunted Mansion, making it perfect for families who want a gentle introduction to the spooky side.
Fortune Teller’s Mystical Corner: A fortune teller’s tent creates an intimate, mysterious atmosphere where you can browse unique divination-themed items and mystical curiosities that you won’t find anywhere else.
Mad Scientist Laboratory: A mad scientist laboratory section brings classic horror movie vibes to life with bubbling beakers, vintage medical equipment, and scientific oddities that would make Dr. Frankenstein proud.
More in Illinois
Pet Alpacas, Ride Trains, And Shop Handmade Gifts At This Magical Farm With A Life-Changing Mission
Discover MoreKiller Clown Carnival: A killer clown circus where a creepy clown greets visitors through a carnival ticket booth delivers that perfect mix of nostalgia and terror that makes your heart race in the best possible way.
Hospital Horror Room: An abandoned hospital operating room where a mutant creature sits on a gurney in a blood-splattered hospital room takes things up a notch for those who crave more intense scares.
Little Shop of Horrors Corner: You’ll even come face to face with Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors, bringing this beloved musical monster to life in stunning detail.
Incredible Artist-Created Merchandise
Local Art Focus: They feature over 175 artists in the store, with over 70% of them being local, making this a true celebration of regional talent. You’ll find signed art prints, sculptures, and one-of-a-kind pieces that support the Chicago-area creative community.
3D Printed Treasures: “The biggest thing right now is all the different 3-D-printed toys. The store is full of them. Right now, we have eight different 3-D print artists”, offering cutting-edge collectibles you can’t get anywhere else.
Related
More in Illinois
Bill’s Toasty In Taylorville Serves Breakfast Platters So Hearty That You Could Skip Lunch Entirely
Keep Exploring →Custom Creations: Kids can bring in their own monster drawings to have made into hand-sewn plush creatures, and visitors can get a picture of their heads in jars or their tattoos made into a prop that looks like flayed skin. These personalized touches make every visit uniquely memorable.
Fandom Paradise: You can find merchandise from all sorts of fandoms such as Dungeons and Dragons, Little Shop of Horrors, Stranger Things and much more, ensuring there’s something for every horror and fantasy enthusiast.
Diverse Product Range: The inventory includes art prints, t-shirts, sculpture, props, crochet, plushies, stickers, patches, jewelry, books, dolls, wood cutouts & truly horrid holiday offerings.
Atmosphere & Family-Friendly Design
Two-Level Experience: The ground floor is more kid-friendly while the downstairs area offers “retail scary section” for teens and adults. This thoughtful separation means families can enjoy the experience together while respecting different comfort levels.
Immersive Environment: The shop is made up of equal parts immersive haunted house-style vignettes, macabre art gallery, and pop culture collector gift shop. Each prop, sticker, book and piece of artwork is strategically placed throughout the store based on its theme and level of scariness.
More in Illinois
Savor European Elegance & Authentic French Pastries At This Cute Eatery In Godfrey
Discover MoreConstantly Evolving: “Every time someone comes in, it should be different than the last time they came in”, because the owners continuously add new pieces and rotate displays to keep the experience fresh.
Creepy Cute Appeal: The store features “a lot of creepy cute” items, which explains why “70% of our sales are women” – the perfect balance of spooky and adorable that appeals to a broader audience than typical horror stores.
Other Considerations
Year-Round Destination: Unlike seasonal Halloween stores, this caters to “people who are horror fans 365 days a year”. You don’t have to wait for October to indulge your dark side.
Free Entertainment: Guests can enjoy complimentary horror pinball machines while browsing, adding an extra layer of fun to your shopping experience.
Pricing Perspective: The focus on artist-created and custom items means you’re investing in unique, quality pieces rather than mass-produced merchandise. The ability to commission custom work and support local artists makes the pricing worthwhile for collectors and horror enthusiasts.
Related
More in Illinois
Visit Wheeling For A Classic Drive-In With Giant Hot Dog Statues On The Roof
Keep Exploring →Convenient Location: Public downtown parking is available at Cedar St. and 2nd St, making it easy to visit during your downtown St. Charles adventures.
Dog-Friendly: The entire family is welcome at Ghoulish Mortals, dogs included, so you can bring your four-legged friends along for the spooky fun.
Basement Events: The basement level serves as a large multi purpose area for birthday parties, prop & craft make & takes, B-movie nights, tabletop game nights, author/artist signings, photography events & themed group art shows.
Shopping Hours: Open year-round from noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, giving you plenty of flexibility to plan your visit.
Ghoulish Mortals
📍 228 W Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174
