Crow Haven Corner (Salem, MA)

Date Of Visit: October 31, 2018

Location: 125 Essex St, Salem, MA

Hours: Hours may vary.  The shop opened at 10 during the week of Halloween

Parking: Street parking may be available during the “off season” (when it isn’t Halloween) and there are several parking garages in Salem

Handicapped Accessible: No

Website: Crow Haven Corner

Highlights: Salem’s (MA) oldest witch shop

One of the most photographed and visited shops in Salem, MA is also one of the oldest shops in Salem.

The oldest witch shop in Salem, MA, Crow Haven Corner has a storied history.  The shop opened in 1971 by the official witch of Salem, Laurie Cabot. Throughout the years the shop grew in popularity and may very well be instrumental in making Salem the tourist attraction it is today.

On busy days, particularly during the busy Halloween season, a long line can be found outside the store and sometimes snaking around the corner.  And, during the busy season, the street outside of the store gets so crowded, they often have to draw arrows to let people know where to line up.

Laurie Cabot remained at the shop during its hay day until the reader Lorelei took over the shop.  Crow Haven Corner has remained a staple of Essex Street ever since.

Not one to get a reading (who knows what they would find out and tell me), I had walked by the shop many times.  In fact, in all of the years and various trips I may have made there, I had not decide to go into the shop until this Halloween.

The shop specializes in potions, spices, figurines and aromas.  They also have works of art and dolls (for various uses I suppose).

Someone bought this Ouija Board after I photographed it.

The store also sells witch balls.  Witch balls are said to trap evil spirits by enticing them with bright colors and prevent the spirits from escaping, although there are other suggested uses for them such as attracting the “evil eye” of some visitors.  The evil eye would be attracted to the bright color of the witch ball which would prevent the evil eye from looking at the inhabitants of the house.

The shop is surprisingly small inside.  At least the shopping area is small.  There is a more spacious back side to the shop where you can have a reading done.

Next to the shop is an private way with a mural and statues.  While I was photographing it, Lorellei asked me if I wanted to take a look at it all and she gave me a guided tour.

Laurie Cabot made the mural.  Corvix , the red dragon, is a new addition to the backyard.  You may also notice the witch balls in the first photo.

The workers at Crow Corner are very friendly.  Pixie let me take her photo while she was checking out some customers.  You can find Pixie on Instagram at witchypoo_pixie.

While I was waiting in line to enter the store, Chucky was lurking around.

Chucky wasn’t the only character at Crow Haven Corner this Halloween.  I found these two shopping inside the store.

There were also these face painters and their marionette.

Penny Wise was there with his friend Charlie.

And, of course, the Sanderson sisters were there!  I had a lot of fun photographing them.

Of course, the cutest subjects to photographs are the kids and families who dressed up for Halloween.

As a side note, I noticed something funny and cute when I ask these children’s parents if I can photograph their children in their costumes  Very often, the parent is more excited about the photo op than the child is!  In fact, on more than one occasion the parent excitedly gave me permission and the child declined!  It is cute to see these parents so proud of their kids.

Dogs love Salem during the Halloween season as well.

From left to right are Sebastian and his little friends Zoey and Bella

Lucy is a Goldendoodle.