Entry No. 17 — the San Diego file — filed under: witch store
Botanica Mama Roots
Self-billed as San Diego's oldest witch store, running since 1989 — it started out downtown and got pushed to Adams Avenue when the block was razed for Petco Park. Owner I-Star, who goes by priestess and psychic, stocks Wicca, Santeria, and Voodoo supplies on the same shelves.
The story
You can thank Petco Park for pushing San Diego’s self-billed oldest witch store up to Normal Heights. Before baseball diamonds and redevelopment swept through downtown, Botanica Mama Roots was quietly operating in the urban center, having first opened its doors back in 1989. When the city razed the block for stadium construction, owner I-Star—a practicing priestess and psychic—packed up her jars, floor washes, and altar gear and dragged the entire operation up to Adams Avenue.
What sets Mama Roots apart from modern, sleek metaphysical boutiques is its unapologetic, side-by-side collision of spiritual lineages. You will find Wiccan candles, Santería statues, and Voodoo supplies sharing the very same wooden shelves. There is no curated separation of traditions here; it functions as a practical, working shop stocked for whoever walks through the door needing a specific root, fixed candle, or ritual oil.
What it's like
Stepping inside 3512 Adams Avenue puts you in a tight, fragrant corridor crowded with glass-encased candles, floor cleansers, dried herbs, and esoteric tools. The shop feels functional and dense rather than polished for photos. You will likely hear murmured tarot or psychic readings coming from I-Star's station in the back room. Hours can be somewhat variable, so call ahead or verify times before heading out, and plan to decompress along Adams Avenue's antique row once you step back outside.
The move: Book a joint tarot or psychic reading with I-Star in the back of the shop, then wander Adams Avenue's antique row afterward to talk through what came up.
- 📍 Normal Heights / Kensington
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3512 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Datura — Contrast Mama Roots' old-school syncretic botanica shelves with Datura's organized apothecary setup of over 350 loose dried herbs and roots.
- Botanica El Santisimo — Follow up Mama Roots' mixed-tradition store with Don Luis's traditional Cuban Santería botanica down in Sherman Heights.
- First Spiritualist Church of San Diego — Pair I-Star's reading room with a visit to San Diego's historical core of Spiritualism, running since 1881 in neighboring City Heights.
Good to know
How long has Botanica Mama Roots been open?
The shop opened in 1989 downtown before relocating to its current Adams Avenue location when its original block was demolished for Petco Park.
Who owns the shop and what services are offered?
The store is run by I-Star, a priestess and psychic who conducts tarot and psychic readings in the back of the shop.
What kinds of products does Mama Roots carry?
The shelves hold a mix of Wiccan, Santería, and Voodoo supplies, including fixed candles, ritual oils, bath washes, raw herbs, and tarot decks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Yelp · adamsavenuebusiness.com · Facebook
last checked: 2026-07-19