This curiosity shop fits the Ballard vibe just right and is a must go to spot. I enjoyed how much thought was put into each display. Each item is carefully labeled so it's fun to explore. They have crystals and beakers and dolls, all kinds of things! Tho place makes a great option for exciting gifts or home decor. read more

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop - Antiques Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I like this! I didn't think there were any places like this left in Old Ballard. LOTS of stuff, including vintage. The stones are priced from $3 upwards, very reasonable. I'll have to come back another time. The young woman assistant was very low-key and nice. read more

Creepy AF, lots of cool things to see. Packed with treasures so plan at least 45 mins for your visit.

I absolutely love to come and visit ballhoo whenever im in the area. If you have a goth friend or family in your life this is the place to go! Its filled with plenty of wet specimen,vintage medical instruments,local seattle artists,halloween decor, and so much more its a goths dream come true. Staff is always super nice and keeps my stuff up front because it is a small store but its packed to the brim with life you'll be seeing so much eye food all around you! Be careful you may just come home with a friend and an empty wallet because this store is just too good not to get something! read more

I love this shop!!! I visited for the second time (as I live rather far from Seattle or I may "phrog" my way in). The first time I got my beloved badger baculum and this time I found the coolest onyx ring. The staff even let me wear a few rings around the shop to get a feel as I narrowed them down to the one that felt best. They were both very helpful, calm and kind. To choose one thing from a room full of a billion things I coveted took all of the self discipline I possess and I am still in a place of "proud of myself" and "kicking myself". Everything is more than reasonably priced so it's me... I'M THE PROBLEM!!! I will ABSOLUTELY be back, next time I quest north! read more

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop - Antiques Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As a comic and vintage media enthusiast... yes and yes. The store has tons of random, weird and interesting items. I firmly believe there's something for everyone and if not then it's for sure an amusing scroll. Fortunately I left more curious. Only con and it's a major one - I'll mirror someone else's review on it needing to be more accessible esp for wheelchairs. read more

I'm a personal sucker for curiosity shops. There is a never ending supply or new inventory to pick from- I always describe it as "a museum you can buy from." More affordably priced than mudlark oddities in Ravenna, with a larger selection as well. Perfect for the weird friend you can never shop for or as a first date spot :) read more

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really cool little shop with oddities big and small. i would've liked just a little bit more from the antique and decorative side of things and a little less of the kitschy goth/alt aesthetic novelties but other than that its really cool. especially love the large taxidermies read more

Been there done that. Typical goth basics. Nothing special except a few cool taxidermy animals.

We stumbled across Ballyhoo by complete accident. While walking down Ballard's many shops. I noticed this sign that said oddities. I love this type of things so I decided to go in. The store has a small door with sign that immediately leads you to a fairly lit stairway. As you Make your way down you automatically get overwhelmed by the amount of awesome items. Every single inch of the small shop has a item to see. There were so many odd and intriguing things to see. I spent about a hour looking through the shop and there was no way I even got through half the inventory. They don't just have odd items. They also had a camera section with many old working condition cameras. Overall it's a great shop. I wish we had more time to explore it in detail. read more

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Love coming here while I'm able to, super cool store. However it's completely unaccessable if you're in a wheelchair or use really any mobility aid, right after the front door there's a lot of stairs, no ramp, elevator, back door, or anything that would allow a disabled person to enter. I have conditions that will eventually necessitate a wheelchair and it's sad to think I won't be able to come here then. read more

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop - Antiques Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Cool store with lots of taxidermy animals, human skulls, and odd antiques. Saw a gun rack made with deer hooves, a taxidermy mouse with it's middle finger flipping you off, creepy looking antique dolls--those ones whose eyes seem to follow you and probably walk around while you sleep. Stopped in for about 20 mins on a Monday daytime to take a look around. Street pay parking out front. read more

Basically a museum where you can buy the exhibits. The main focus is taxidermy with many funny twists. Be sure to stop here if you are visiting Ballard. For sure on the strange side, this shop is certain to catch the attention of your whole group or family. read more

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My favorite Curiosity Shop ever! Cool stuff is always appearing in the shop and every time I go it just gets better! Lots of taxidermy, crystals and curio domes among other things. The shop owner really cares about the shop and you can tell how passionate he is about it! I would definitely recommend stopping by if you're ever in Ballard even if it's just to peak around. read more

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop - Antiques Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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They have a jackalope and a bunch of butterflies! Really fun place to browse, even if you don't want to buy anything crazy! There are little taxidermy mice, tons of antlered heads, and also a literal human skeleton. We saw an actual antique human skeleton, but also they have a medically made replica on the floor. There is a cool section in the front full of rocks and crystals. A few local artists have their work up, in the midst of all the antiques. The prices range from being really reasonable to being a little expensive. I'm not an expert on the pricing of taxidermy, so don't ask me on that, but they have a lot of decent animal skulls behind glass. read more

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Are you a curious person? Do you like vintage creepy stuff and dead things? This is the place to go! Ballyhoo Curiosity shop won't kill you (or your curiosity​ ), but they might take your breath away with fantastic taxidermy, skulls, other animal body parts (like claws), vintage items and so much more! It's an experience on its own, so go there, wander through this hidden basement and start or expand your curiosity collection. read more

Love the shop. All the interesting things. I am a snoopy person and would love a full time job looking in people's attics. This is like that. Most vintage...some classy ...some creepy....and a whole lot of fun. And what I also love about that shop is that there are memories that pop up that make me nostalgic. For example I saw a Big Boy statue (in Canada we don't have Big Boy's). When I was little my auntie and uncle would drive up from Michigan and always had fun stuff for me....one of them was a Big Boy coloring book. I remember coloring in that book thinking, "One day I am going to eat there." And actually 6 years ago we drove up there, because my uncle was actually very ill and passed away soon after, and one of the memories I had was insisting to my husband that we needed to eat at a Big Boy. And I loved it. And the burger to me tasted as good as what I thought it would as a kid. I love places like that, that make you remember what was important in the past that somehow in life get's forgotten. The other thing that triggered a memory was the two headed calf. I grew up in a farming community and I am sure our local town had one. I posted the photo on Facebook and asked my hometown friends for their opinion. Sure enough Joe's New and Used had one on display for a couple of years. And through the conversation we talked about other things that happened in town that made us happy. It was really fun to reminisce. Go if you like the past and want to be surprised! read more

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So cool! I love curiosity shops, and this is one of the best I've seen. This little basement shop is bursting at the seams with items big and small that'll capture your attention. There's a lot of taxidermy, but it hardly stops there. I mean, I could go into details as to what all they have but I think that'd ruin the fun. Just go. It's brilliant. What a wonderful shop. read more

So neat! So much to see even if you aren't looking for anything specific. Absolutely loved all of the taxidermy animals, especially the raccoons. Definitely recommend stopping in, you just have to see it! read more

I can't speak highly enough of this place. My girlfriend was looking for a very specific style of shadow box. After speaking with the owner he decided he had the right material to craft it himself. He put in a massive effort to construct an Instagram worthy skull-in-a-box, all while keeping in communication to keep it within the customers wants. Great staff, great location and probably the best curiosity shop we've been to. read more

Hidden gem, lots of interesting and unique treasures. I almost didn't want to write a review in fear that too many people will find out about it. read more

I was just strolling around Ballard one weekday evening when I saw some bizarre taxidermy in a shop window and had to investigate. The Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop is a fun and funky place to kill time, as well as a resource for genuinely cool and totally unique gifts. Who wouldn't want an entire stuffed water buffalo in their home, y'know? But Ballyhoo has so much more than just taxidermy. Lots of vintage delights, including an entire corn-themed corn on the cob service set; fossils and crystals (including very reasonably priced, big chunks of rose quartz); a human rib cage in a bell jar; and much, much more. Ballyhoo somewhat fills the weird, nostalgic hole left behind by Nevertold Casket Company and Ghost Gallery, and I'm very grateful for it. read more

One of my favorite curio/oddity/taxidermy shops. Great selection, reasonable prices (especially for the gentrifying Ballard strip), and friendly staff with a genuine interest in what they do. read more

Do you like cool and/ or weird things? Do you like those things at an affordable price? Cool. You should go here! It's right near a bunch of great restaurants in Ballard so you can go eat some nachos and/ or drink beer and bring your brand new taxidermy alligator head that you bought at ballyhoo. For real, this store is straight up magical. It's as if all the items were handpicked from all other thrift stores, so you don't need to dig for the coolest stuff- ITS ALL HERE. Ryan, the owner is the bee's knee's and has a really great eye for the weird and interesting. A plus is that he's a super great guy, so you're supporting someone great and buying great stuff. I can't stop saying great things- ballyhoo is a dream. Where else can you buy a raccoon penis bone AND doll eyes AND a cat shaped decanter?!? I bought an item for a white elephant party/ competition and my item WON and it's all because ballyhoo is the best. read more

Ballyhoo has become my favorite shop in Ballard! Ryan and his crew are simply the best. He works really hard curating his shop and bringing in all sorts of curiosities whether you're into taxidermy, rock specimens, doll parts, and whatever your inner-freak desires. Prices are always reasonable. The people are always the nicest. Resident artists are featured in the shop too. I'm always exited to see what's new there. Five stars all the way! read more

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop - Treasures from Ballyhoo! - Antiques Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very interesting items, I was not disappointed. The mystery boxes are amazing too! Lots of creepy goodies in there to collect.

I stumbled across this gem of a shop today and I'm so glad I did! Ballyhoo has a wonderfully curated assortment of all things weird and wonderful. From beautifully displayed vintage Uranium glass to local art and animal bones- there's something for everybody here. Today I picked up a pair of vintage doll eyes and my friend grabbed some crystals and an arrowhead for her kids. I'll definitely be heading back soon to get some of the other covetable treasures I spotted (at really great prices, nonetheless). Also worth mentioning- the shop owner is friendly and helpful. read more

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop - Beautiful vintage doll eyes! - Antiques Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place is the bomb! So much weird, interesting and old stuff to check out. It's really close to all the fun shops in Ballard and definitely worth a visit. I got a bunch of antique books and cool art from there. They also have crystals, curiosities and friendly staff! read more

Very interesting shop. We had been visiting the Ballard Locks and decided to wonder around Ballard's downtown area when we came across this curiosity shop. There is a lot to see, we went around the store numerous times and kept seeing new items we had missed. If you're in the market for taxidermy animals or various animal and human bones, this place has you covered. They have a lot of antique items as well. Prices are very reasonable. read more

I gave it one star, due to my major disappointments highlighted below. Though the only saving grace was a print that I stumbled upon by one of my favorite artists. If not for that, this place would have been a total loss. My most major disappointment about this place was, not only the size of the store that doesn't make traveling far very worth it (very tiny space) but also the fact that the most interesting things were not even on sale - just display. So, you really only get the chance to blow $300 on a taxidermy armadillo. No chance of buying the more interesting curiosities, for those wondering. The fortune teller machine was broken and did not provide a card. It's not the kind that is set up to. Just garbled out a message that was hard to understand. A lot of their stuff is supposedly authentic recreations but do not look to be so. To top it all off, I purchased a mystery box and ended up spending $20 on what appears to be tiny odds and ends from someone's junk drawer. I literally got a paper clip, a cheap plastic bead necklace (the kind a 12 year old would make), a shell with a gigantic hole in it for some reason (literally a round hole the size of a quarter taken right out of the center), a rubber monkey head, a fart bomb, and one of those short half pencils that have no eraser that comes with a Yahtzee board... that's it... for $20. A friend of mine got an old TV guide in theirs... a TV guide. So yeah. Someone had a bunch of garbage they wanted to make profit from. I would not waste my money on one of those mystery boxes unless you want to end up with literally pieces of plastic that the owners of the shop knew wouldn't sell on their own, so they just tossed them in a box (did not fill the box up even half way, mind you) and sell like they're supposed to be "funny" gifts. Why? Because of course you can't complain! It's a "mystery box" so you chose to take a chance and you get what you get. Totally makes sense, right? Lame. At least sprinkle in some decent stuff with the worthless junk. read more

A curated space for sure, no junk and a friendly staff. Also the day I was there they were playing proper country music. Loved that.

I love this shop, and it would be far too easy to buy way more stuff than I have room for in my house. Then I'd have to open my own oddities shop! Ballyhoo reminds me a bit of Paxton Gate in Portland, only the prices here are much more reasonable. I found a brass birdcage, a bird skull mounted on a small ornate brass stand, and a large blinking eye used by doll makers. These were the items I had to have right away, but there were so many other delightful objects I would have loved to haul home to my own collection! The basement location is perfect, too - a mysterious other world to visit. read more

I went to this store for the first time this weekend. This place is my perfect antique/curiosity shop. There's a good selection of stuff that ranges across macabre and carny/sideshow-esque, Steampunk-friendly, and just eclectic pretty things. It all has a feel of quality that I love. Ryan, the owner was very sweet and clearly very informed. I actually went because I'm downsizing before a remodel, and finally decided to let go of some old pretty books that have decorated my shelves since I was a kid. I really hoped they'd find a loving home. First I'd tried the used book stores and my friend network and no luck. I called Ryan to check if he might want them (they're heavy). He was not only interested, he told me if he and Twice Sold Tales didn't want them, he knew some good places they could get donated. He was so happy when he had a chance to look at them, that just made my day. On top of that he quoted a good price for either check or trade. I traded for a beautiful cameo that was a very fair price. He even suggested if I didn't like the one he had, he could get others pretty easily. When the remodel's done if there's anything I need to decorate my space I'm definitely checking with Ryan first. If I don't find the right thing in the store, I'll be sure to tell him what I'm looking for. I have a feeling he has good sources for great stuff. read more

Such an amazing store! They have such a unique selection of gifts, animal bones, vintage items, butterflies and skulls in terrariums, it's such a pleasure to wander through the aisles and find a little something to take home. read more

Just such a cool place. I stop in here every time I am in Ballard. If you're looking for a fun place to peek around in, this is the store for you. read more

I bought a raccoon penis bone for $5! But they don't print "raccoon penis bone" on your receipt so I'm deducting one star. read more

This place is an awesome blend of macabre, taxidermy and awesome antique finds! I stumbled upon it after chatting it up at another store. Amazing deals and awesome stuff to explore. I suggest you take a look! read more

Great little curiosity shop with everything actually for sale unlike some shops that are more like museums! I ended up getting an amethyst but they had lots of cute small taxidermy and other items I would have loved to take home. I went to Ballard specifically for this shop! read more

could spend all day here. going to make monthly trips to make sure I don't miss anything. thoroughly entertaining