The owners of a new downtown Bangor shop hope that anyone that’s a fan of anything dark — horror movies and books, ghost stories, the paranormal, science fiction, monsters, you name it — will find a home at their business.
Kaddie and Nick Iammateo plan to open The Emporium Spooky Goods & More this weekend at 22 State St., offering books, decor, memorabilia, clothing, art and other “spooky” goods inspired by the horror genre the couple loves so much.
“There are horror fans everywhere, and they are such a happy, supportive, fun community,” Kaddie Iammateo said. “We want to be a place for them here. We think we should hang a sign on the window that says ‘Misfits welcome.’”
The couple moved to Bangor from North Carolina three years ago, drawn to the city’s renown as the home of Stephen King, and to the general spooky vibes of New England.
“This place is spooky. It’s not just Stephen King. It’s ‘Dark Shadows.’ It’s H.P. Lovecraft. It’s old New England ghost stories,” Nick Iammateo said. “And it sounds crazy, but we like the climate.”
They met while doing theater in the Raleigh area, and originally bonded over a shared love of the horror genre. Kaddie Iammateo said they had always dreamed of opening their own business inspired by it.
“The more we thought about it, the more we thought we could make this work here,” Kaddie Iammateo said. “The horror genre is much wider than some people might think. We love everything from ’80s slasher movies to Italian giallo to Scooby-Doo.”
The couple have already partnered with regional businesses and groups to offer programming ranging from classic horror film screenings to ghost tours. The Emporium will be at the Bangor Comic & Toy Con at the Cross Insurance Center on Oct. 4-6. Later in the fall the store will host a screening of “Phantasm” at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor on Oct. 19 and a 40th anniversary screening of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” at Black Bear Cinemas in Orono on Nov. 10. They also plan to host book clubs and signings at the State Street shop, and other smaller events.
“Our biggest challenge is probably going to be teaching people that we’re not just open for Halloween,” Kaddie Iammateo said. “This is an all year-round thing. People don’t stop watching horror movies in November. So we really want to get out into the community, and embrace Bangor and its own spooky history.”
The Emporium will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday; it will be closed on Mondays. For more information, follow The Emporium Spooky Goods & More on Facebook and Instagram.
