Entry No. 11 — the Austin file — filed under: witchy
Curia Arcanum's House of Curiosities
A South Congress curio shop billing itself 'The Mystically Macabre Curio for the Curious & Odd,' open only three narrow windows a week — Friday and Saturday 1–7pm, Sunday 2–6pm — with a Jules de Gaultier line over the door: 'Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.'
The story
If you aren't paying attention, you'll roll right past Unit #23 in an unassuming South Congress commercial-condo complex. But step up to the door and you'll find Curia Arcanum, founded by Francis Houston Blakely Suchomel III and Katlynn Rose Blakely Suchomel. Etched over the entryway is a quote from Jules de Gaultier: "Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality." Originally operating off South 1st Street before property sales and pandemic delays forced a move, the couple resurrected the shop in this two-story live-work unit—literally carving away part of their own kitchen and living space to make room for their expanding cabinet of wonders.
Inside, it feels less like a retail store and more like slipping into the private study of a Victorian occultist who never quite moved on. The shelves are packed tight with ethically sourced animal remains, taxidermied oddities (including a mythical wolpertinger), wet specimens, vintage medical tools, apothecary jars, framed insects, and rare texts on magic and mysticism. Francis—acting as the resident Curator—also illustrated his own custom 32-card Cartomancy deck, offering divination readings and cartomancy instruction right in the room.
What it's like
Finding the door is half the fun: drive into the 5924 South Congress lot, head past the front commercial spaces toward the back condos, and look for an eight-foot statue of the Egyptian deity Thoth guarding the entrance to Unit #23 during open hours. The room inside is tight, dark, and densely packed, so don't expect a sprawling warehouse browse. Business hours are strictly limited to three narrow windows a week—Friday and Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.—so double-check the clock before heading down. If parking right in front of the unit is full, park near the adjacent Chirocare lot and walk over.
The move: Time a visit to its Friday–Sunday hours to dig through the mystically macabre curios, then keep walking the rest of South Congress while you're already down there.
- 📍 South Congress
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5924 S Congress Ave #23, Austin, TX 78745
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Uncommon Objects — Follow up Curia Arcanum’s narrow Victorian occult study with a dive through Uncommon Objects' warehouse floor of oddities two miles away.
- Cathedral of Junk — Contrast this intimate, dark curio shop with a visit just down South Congress to Vince Hannemann's towering backyard trash labyrinth.
- Martinez Brothers Taxidermists — Pair Curia's wet specimens and taxidermied oddities with a look at Austin's oldest family-run taxidermy workshop on South Lamar.
- Libertine Austin — Botanical Perfume Blending Class — Complement a cartomancy reading and occult book search with a hands-on botanical perfume blending workshop along South Congress.
Good to know
What are the exact hours for Curia Arcanum?
The shop is open Friday and Saturday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. It is closed Monday through Thursday.
How do I locate Unit #23 when I pull up?
Drive into the 5924 S Congress Ave complex toward the back buildings. Look for an eight-foot statue of Thoth standing outside the front door during operating hours.
What kind of oddities and merchandise do they sell?
They sell ethically sourced taxidermy, wet specimens, framed insects, vintage medical apparatuses, occult books, artisan jewelry, crystals, and Francis Suchomel's custom 32-card Cartomancy deck.
Can I get a fortune or tarot reading at the store?
Yes, the Curator offers cartomancy readings on-site using his custom-designed 32-card deck, and the shop periodically hosts guest psychics.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Instagram · curiaarcanum.square.site · do512.com · Atlas Obscura · canvasrebel.com
last checked: 2026-07-20