Mystic Mission
Altar Room makes bewitching statement
By Kyle Jaeger
November 2025
The Altar Room is open to the public only on Saturdays. Arriving at the nondescript storefront off 65th Street for the first time, a visitor might think it’s never open.
Tucked away in an industrial building, the lone indicator of the historical occult curiosities shop is a small sign that welcomes the curious.
Shasta Smith owns and curates The Altar Room. Along with its weekend retail sales, the site is a museum of oddities, an educational workshop for the witchy and an event space showcasing the city’s eclectic side.
There are serious intentions behind the room’s composition.
Having grown up with a taxidermist father and a mother with a talent for interior design, Smith’s background is apparent when visitors cross into one of Sacramento’s best-kept secrets.
Don’t be afraid to open the door.
“I feel it’s somewhat of my responsibility for people to come into the shop and see a piece of history and not be scared by it,” Smith says. “Most people are a bit overwhelmed when they walk into the shop, and I understand that.
“But then there’s some people that are collectors, and their intention of being there has nothing to do with beliefs. They find the beauty or artistic nature of things that are in there.”
The shop features a rotating, evolving array of products for sale, from stones and seashells to candles and altar sets, to jarred butterflies and immortalized foxes.
Smith had reservations when Inside wanted to publish a story about her business. Other media mischaracterized her, giving the impression she’s a supplier of cursed artifacts.
There’s nothing cursed about The Altar Room. Smith feels most fulfilled when she breaks down boundaries and connects with people who are searching for something undefined—once their eyes adjust to the darkened interior.
The Altar Room was previously located on North 16th Street. Smith closed during the pandemic and moved across town. The new location is somewhat distant for Downtown patrons, but customers still travel from near and far to experience the magic.
The crowd isn’t all goths and pagans. Dads in golf polos and cargo shorts accompany curious children through the mystical collection. Out-of-towners looking to expand their collectibles stop by.
From the outside, The Altar Room presents as a novelty store. From the inside, it takes on a new light.
Smith, who also owns the Vintage Monkey motorcycle shop, works hard to make guests feel welcomed. Many visitors seem a bit introverted while browsing, “so I do make sure that there’s a lot of written material around the shop that they can read so they feel comfortable enough to ask a question.”
Part of what makes The Altar Room unique is its holistic commitment to the curious. Patrons are encouraged to explore and ask questions.
Along the way, Smith fostered a niche community. Last year she held a “Mystic in Midsummer” event at the City Cemetery.
Vendors sold oddities and historical artifacts and connected with the community that gravitated toward the ornate gravestones, tents and food trucks.
The Altar Room hosts small groups for educational sessions on everything from necromancy to spiritual guidance journeys. Smith hopes to expand the catalog of speakers to share their expertise.
While intimidating at first, The Altar Room makes sense for Sacramento. Not flashy on the outside, but deeply inviting and unusual on the inside. It’s a place to connect with histories not taught on field trips to the Capitol or Sutter’s Fort.
“What I really want people to know is that, if they visit, and they’re a first-time visitor or they’ve been there for the 100th time, they will always be greeted,” Smith says. “There will always be a friendly greeting, and they’re always welcome.”
The Altar Room is at 3045 65th St., Suite 6. For information, visit thealtarroom.com or call (916) 507-1677.
Kyle Jaeger can be reached at jaegerkyle@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
