Entry No. 58 — the Denver file — filed under: witchy
HORRID
Tucked down S. Acoma behind the Brutal Poodle, HORRID started as one woman's spare-bedroom horror brand and has metastasized into a whole 'House of Horrors' block. Inside you'll find bones, occult candles, taxidermy-adjacent oddities, art and patches from Denver indie makers, plus a horror-themed coffee shop (SCR3AM & SUGAR), a tattoo studio, and Creepatorium, an alternative event space. It's death-positive and witchy in a punk-DIY way, and it stays off the standard metaphysical-shop guides entirely.
The story
You won't find HORRID on standard metaphysical tourist guides, and that's entirely by design—you didn't hear it from us, but this place exists outside the sanitized mainstream. Tucked down South Acoma Street directly behind The Brutal Poodle heavy-metal bar, what started as founder Emerald Boes’ spare-bedroom horror zine has metastasized into an entire 'House of Horrors' compound. It operates as a death-positive, witchy DIY sanctuary that trades mass-produced crystal kitsch for authentic bone specimens, local maker art, and a unapologetically punk-queer community.
Step inside and you'll find four distinct operations under one roof. The main retail floor stocks animal skulls, occult candles, taxidermy-adjacent oddities, and Denver-made pins right alongside hyper-niche horror merch like Creature From the Black Lagoon Croc charms. Tucked inside is SCR3AM & SUGAR, a coffee counter run by Nic Johnson pouring movie-themed lattes like the Nutella-infused 'Hiya Georgie.' In the back, HORRID Tattoo handles custom ink, while performance artist Presley Peach co-runs Creepatorium—a 4,000-square-foot warehouse venue hosting Sunday matinee film fests, anti-holiday bashes, and alternative maker markets.
What it's like
Finding the entrance means driving past South Broadway's main strip and pulling behind The Brutal Poodle; look for the S. Acoma Street facade where the SCR3AM & SUGAR window sits on the northwest corner. Inside, the vibe is cozy, unpretentious, and deeply welcoming to the local alt crowd, with people sipping lattes while browsing taxidermy and horror art. Because retail, coffee service, tattoo bookings, and Creepatorium events all run on slightly different clocks, aim for a weekend afternoon when shop and cafe hours overlap—and if you're coming for an evening Creepatorium market, claim street parking on Acoma early before it fills up.
The move: Get matching black coffees at SCR3AM & SUGAR, hunt for the weirdest oddity in the shop to gift each other, and if you're feeling bold, look into a flash-day tattoo at HORRID Tattoo to make it permanent.
📍 Before you go Find it on South Broadway's Overland edge: it's set back behind the Brutal Poodle bar on S. Acoma, so look for the House of Horrors block, not a street-front storefront — the SCR3AM & SUGAR coffee window in the Acoma-facing northwest corner is your landmark. The whole place is one indoor complex, so it makes a solid bad-weather plan; aim for an afternoon when shop and cafe overlap. Its biggest draws are Creepatorium's scheduled markets, movie nights, and pop-ups, so scan the event calendar first. Tattoo work is by appointment, and street parking is free but tight on event nights. Pair it with the vintage shops and dive bars along South Broadway.
- 📍 South Broadway / Overland
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1974 S Acoma St, Denver, CO 80223 (behind the Brutal Poodle bar)
Hours: Shop and coffee shop keep regular retail hours (check Yelp/IG @horridmag); Creepatorium events are scheduled separately. Confirm tattoo studio by appointment.
Pair it with
- Fifty-Two 80s: A Totally Awesome Shop — A nostalgia-loaded retro shop just two blocks away on South Broadway that flips HORRID's macabre tone into bright 1980s pop-culture toys and synth-wave collectibles.
- The Oddemporium — Head six blocks up Antique Row for a floor-to-ceiling wall of wet specimens, historical medical tools, and Victorian curiosities.
- Spectra Art Space — A women-run gallery down Broadway that trades dark horror for colorful, handmade walk-through immersive art installations.
- The Sexploratorium — An educational sex museum founded by former college professors that keeps South Broadway's weird, unfiltered strip going two blocks north.
Good to know
Where is HORRID located?
It sits at 1974 S Acoma St in Denver's Overland neighborhood, set back on Acoma Street directly behind The Brutal Poodle bar.
What is inside the House of Horrors complex?
The complex contains the HORRID oddities gift shop, SCR3AM & SUGAR coffee bar, HORRID Tattoo studio, and the Creepatorium event venue under one roof.
Do I need a ticket to enter?
No tickets are needed to browse the retail shop or order from SCR3AM & SUGAR, but HORRID Tattoo requires an appointment and Creepatorium events (like movie nights and markets) may require ticketed entry.
Can I bring food into Creepatorium events?
Yes, many Creepatorium events allow patrons to bring in food from The Brutal Poodle next door alongside drinks from SCR3AM & SUGAR.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Westword · outfrontmagazine.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-07