Entry No. 4 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: witchy
The Crooked Path Occult Apothecary
Run by Italian witch Sal Santoro, who has 35-plus years in the occult and witchcraft community, and his wife Popi Mavros. The shop stocks an extensive apothecary of herbs, oils, stones and candles, and includes a craft-your-own custom candle station, a tarot reading room with head reader Renee Watt, an art gallery and a communal space. Santoro and Watt also host a weekly Thursday-night livestream called Betwixt The Shadows on witchcraft, astrology and spellcraft.
The story
You don't walk into 2020 West Magnolia Boulevard expecting a sterile wellness boutique with pastel quartz and generic positivity. The Crooked Path is a working occult apothecary, founded by Italian witch Sal Santoro—a practitioner with over 35 years in witchcraft and the occult—and his wife Popi Mavros. Santoro built the shop as a physical anchor for serious practitioners and curious outsiders alike, prioritizing practical folk magic and traditional herbalism over sanitized lifestyle trends.
The interior operates like a functional workbench for spellcraft. Shelves are stocked with bulk apothecary herbs, hand-mixed ritual oils, raw stones, and consecrated candles. Instead of just buying off the shelf, you can sit at the shop's custom candle-dressing station to dress, oil, and coat your own candles with specific botanicals. Beyond the apothecary counters, the layout includes a local art gallery, a communal space for workshops, and a secluded back room where head reader Renee Watt conducts tarot sessions.
The shop's ecosystem extends beyond the physical counter in Burbank. Every Thursday night, Santoro and Watt host *Betwixt The Shadows*, a livestream dedicated to spellcraft, astrology, and practical occult tradition. It operates with the same candid, fluff-free ethos you encounter at the register: real craft, zero pretense.
What it's like
Expect the heavy, unvarnished aroma of dried resins, bulk herbs, and beeswax as soon as you step off Magnolia Boulevard. The atmosphere is quiet, deliberate, and practical—you are free to inspect rows of herbal jars and mineral trays at your own pace, or sit down at the dressing station to build a custom candle. The staff are knowledgeable without being dogmatic, though you should confirm current store and reading hours before making the trip if you plan to sit for a tarot reading in the back.
The move: Build matching custom candles at the dressing station, then sit for a tarot reading in the back room.
- 📍 Burbank (Magnolia Park)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2020 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Bearded Lady's Mystic Museum — Walk less than ten minutes down Magnolia Boulevard to shift from practical witchcraft to taxidermy, dark oddities, and curated exhibits.
- Vulture Culture Oddities — Keep your Magnolia Park crawl going with a visit to this nearby den of bones, skulls, and dark art from local makers.
- Tonga Hut — Head north into North Hollywood after your reading for dim lighting and classic tiki cocktails at LA's oldest operating tiki bar.
Good to know
Where is The Crooked Path located?
The shop is located at 2020 W Magnolia Blvd in the Magnolia Park neighborhood of Burbank, California.
Can you make your own ritual candles at the shop?
Yes. The shop features a hands-on custom candle station where you can dress, oil, and charge tapers with specific herbs and intention oil blends.
Who does tarot readings at The Crooked Path?
Tarot readings are conducted in the shop's private reading room by head reader Renee Watt.
What is Betwixt The Shadows?
It is a weekly Thursday-night livestream hosted by owner Sal Santoro and tarot reader Renee Watt, focusing on astrology, spellcraft, and occult topics.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: makingwavesproject.com · Official site · Yelp · voyagela.com
last checked: 2026-06-23