SPRINGFIELD — Imagine what it would be like if Spirit Halloween, Hot Topic, and Value Village had a love child.
This Springfield store isn’t just open around Halloween. You can get your gothic fix all year round. Located in downtown Springfield at 226 7th St., The Crypt may be one of Springfield’s best-kept secrets.
The little store is crammed with vintage horror posters, CDs, records, movies, creepy curios, ghoulish décor, and taxidermy. It also has a section of used clothes full of black lace, ruffles, corsets, studs, and everything else to satisfy those with a gothic fashion sense.
One of the owners, Dakota Jennen, creates insect taxidermy, specimens, and macabre displays. The other owner, Keiran Hawke, makes screen-printed patches, candles, and buttons sold in the store. He also uses his building skills to create frames, refurbish old farm equipment used as decor, and antler plaques.

Dakota Jennen holds her creation of a Victorian doll with an animal head. SARINA DORIE / CHRONICLE PHOTO
When you are in the store, check out the craftsmanship of the coffin bookcase that Hawke constructed. While Hawke explained that his mother wanted him to make a coffin case for her Anne Rice books as a housewarming present, one customer commented, “That’s a cool mother.”
It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as Hawke’s family has similar interests.
When they opened the store in April 2023, Hawke was 26, and Jennen was 24. They were inspired by their favorite television series, “Tales from the Crypt.”
They said the store is like an extension of Hawke and Jennen’s home, full of similar items.
When Hawke and Jennen saw the vacant sign, they had the idea of selling handcrafted and used goth items there. Hawke used his construction knowledge from his job to upgrade the building and make it work for them. The location of this goth store was once a church. Hawke still works part-time in construction, while Jennen previously worked in the food industry.
“No one wants to be stuck somewhere you don’t like,” said Jennen, adding that being an entrepreneur and expressing her creativity is a better fit for her.


The Crypt is a fun store but more than just a store. Every three months, it partners with a nonprofit organization called RAD (Radical Alternative Development) to create a “mosh pit market.”
The Crypt organizes the vendor portion of the event—and they don’t charge vendors for table spaces—while providing an alternative scene for artists to sell their wares. Of course, they curate to ensure each seller’s art is a good fit for the event. RAD organizes the musicians.
Many of these collaborative events revolve around building community and inclusivity, emphasizing punk values and promoting peace, equity, and compassion.
Last summer, RAD focused on mental health awareness, while other events have been fundraisers. Their last event was at Washington Jefferson Skatepark in Eugene.
Their next event is in March and will be at Blair Alley in Eugene.
“We didn’t have local music events like this when we were kids. We had to go up to Portland,” said Hawke. “It gives kids something to do, and they can see local music and get affordable stickers and buttons while they are there.”
Hawke has ambitions to project movies at or outside their shop someday, and Dakota would like to teach taxidermy classes.
When asked who their clientele is, Hawke says, “Weird people.”
“Very affordable prices, particularly for vintage clothes, which is a selling point,” said Phoenix Moon, a customer. “It is Halloween, every day of the year here. I have at least three friends I will tell to check it out.”
Sarina Dorie is the arts writer for The Chronicle.