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Horror Finds a New Home
Barbara R ther -- 1/3/00

Last month, Dark Delicacies, America's only all-horror book and gift store moved to an expanded location near its former site in Burbank. The opening of the new 2,000-sq.-ft. space at 4213 W. Burbank Blvd. also coincided with Dark Delicacies' fifth anniversary.

Nikki from Vampire Cosmetics was on hand for two days to offer makeovers and show off the season's newest shades of nail polish, Dried Blood and Vampire Blood. Store owners Del and Susan Howison offered a cauldron of refreshments and some dastardly door prizes. The Howisons began Dark Delicacies when they set out to decorate their home and found it difficult to locate the kinds of household items they wanted, such as coffin clocks.

"We began with part of our own book collection and some selected gift items," said Del. "Since then, we have grown about 30% in sales each year." Howison told PW that Dark Delicacies draws people from all over the country because they're made to feel comfortable about their dark predilections; and for the store's selection of nearly 5,000 new and used horror titles. Among th store's most popular items: artist Roman Dirge's Lenore dolloften described as "Raggedy Ann with a lifestyle change."

In an effort to make patrons even more comfortable, the new "Home of Horror" features an entryway mural called "The Garden of No Return" by Bernie Wrightson and Susan Renee Tomb. Inside the store, a local artist by the name of gak has created a permanent 3-D installation of a haunted house and cemetery; and the coffin-shaped furnishings were custom-created for the store. Author Clive Barker is one of the store's strongest supporters but is not, according to Howison, its typical customer. "The largest percentage of our customers are housewives from the Valley," he said. "Our biggest holiday in terms of sales is Mother's Day."
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