Entry No. 50 — the Des Moines file — filed under: witchy
Wonderland Apothecary at Groovy Goods
A full herbal apothecary tucked inside Groovy Goods, a vintage hippie shop two blocks from Drake University, stocked with 70+ medicinal and ritual herbs alongside stones, tarot, and 1960s clothing.
The story
For years, if you needed bulk botanicals or ritual flora near Drake University, you headed to 2300 University Avenue, pushed past racks of vintage 1960s clothes, and navigated to the back of Groovy Goods. There sat Wonderland Apothecary: a dense corner filled with more than 70 jars of medicinal and ritual herbs, polished stones, tarot decks, and house-mixed teas with blunt names like Hangover and Relax & Digest.
That original setup is gone. In spring 2025, the flagship Drake storefront shuttered for good, its fixtures went to auction, and the store's original website domain lapsed into spam territory. But the apothecary didn't vanish—it packed up its dried herbs, crystals, and tarot cards and retreated east.
The surviving operation now lives inside Groovy Goods East, tucked into a business suite at 1100 N Hickory Boulevard in Pleasant Hill, just off East University Avenue. You'll know you've found the right spot when you spot the orange bear outside.
What it's like
Do not set your GPS for the old Drake location unless you want to stare at an empty shopfront. Drive out to the Pleasant Hill suite instead and look for the orange bear by the entrance. Inside, the vibe is more condensed than the old vintage-and-clothing storefront, but the essential herbal inventory, crystal bins, and tarot decks carried over. If you are going specifically for a custom tea blend from the counter, check their Facebook page first to confirm how much of the blending station is operational in the new space.
The move: Build a custom tea blend from the herb bins (the named blends include Hangover and Relax & Digest), then dig through the vintage racks in the main shop for an outfit on each other.
📍 Before you go Heads up: the Drake storefront at 23rd & University closed in spring 2025 and its fixtures went to auction, so do not navigate to the address on this card. The operation survives at the Groovy Goods East sister store, a suite at 1100 N Hickory Blvd in Pleasant Hill just off East University Ave — their opening post says to look for the orange bear. The herb, crystal, and tarot stock carries on there, but we have not confirmed the full Wonderland tea-blending counter made the move, so check their Facebook first; the old groovy-goods.com domain has lapsed and now serves spam.
- 📍 Drake (Des Moines)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2300 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Ancient Ways — If you miss the original Drake University neighborhood vibe, hit this long-running occult shop on University Avenue for incense, books, and ethnic drums.
- Woodland Cemetery — City Receiving Vault & Baby Hill — Pair an herbal haul with a quiet walk through Des Moines' oldest municipal cemetery, established in 1848.
- Inner Space — ZeroBody Dry Float & Salt Lounge — Balance your ritual herbal remedies with a suspended, fully-clothed dry float session at this downtown-edge wellness studio.
Good to know
Is Wonderland Apothecary still located near Drake University?
No. The storefront at 2300 University Avenue closed in spring 2025 and the fixtures were auctioned off. The shop relocated to Groovy Goods East in Pleasant Hill.
Where is the new location and how do I spot it?
It operates inside Groovy Goods East at 1100 N Hickory Blvd in Pleasant Hill, IA (just off East University Ave). Look for the orange bear outside the suite.
Is the original website still active?
No. The old domain (groovy-goods.com) expired and now hosts spam. Check their active Facebook page for current announcements and hours instead.
What stock made the move to Pleasant Hill?
The shop still carries its core inventory of 70+ medicinal and ritual herbs, crystals, stones, and tarot decks, though full tea-counter service should be confirmed before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Facebook · bestprosintown.com
last checked: 2026-06-09