Sanctuary Curio Shoppe

I’ve walked past here several times and loved what I saw in the window. Finally we had some time to stop today. I popped in and within 3 minutes I found two nice summer dresses! As I approached an attendant, she told me that they had a «no backpack rule.» And that I would have to give her my purse so she could leave it on the counter. By the door. Unattended. When I told her I was not comfortable with that, she shrugged.
Whelp, I’m not about to spend money on a place that treats me like a criminal for no reason.
So I put the dresses that I was going to try on down and walked out.
Time to hit up etsy.
Tldr; rude staff, don’t bother with this place.

I feel like maybe the old staff were maybe awful but I adore the new staff members/​old friendly ones. They have always helped me. They are pretty picky about having bags in the store but as someone that used to work at a liquor store, it’s fair. People steal A LOT!
Shout out to the girl with the star on her neck. She drew a little picture of Texas Chainsaw Stickman on my layaway bag. It was so cute! But yeah, pricey but worth it.

I love the new light sanctuary and the dark as well, most everything sold there is of good quality, I’ve ordered things specially from them and I have never had a problem with them. They have been friendly and helpful every time I’ve gone there.
They do have a lay away plan as well. and the clothes and shoes they have there are great, the prices are alright a bit on the expensive side but there’s not too many places in the city that sell the stuff they do.
The one thing I don’t like is that they don’t allow you to bring your pocket pooch inside the store. So you have to risk the pure bred chihuahua getting stolen while you buy stuff in their store or in the car because you just happened to have driven to the area to walk your dog in the river valley.
That’s all.

I haven’t been here for at least three years and it’s due to the service. Everytime I went to this store, just to look mostly, the staff were stuck up and one girl was even telling me how to hold a book so I don’t break the binding. She even told me I have to pay for it if I hold it wrong. It was so odd that I just left and never went back. When I was in highschool, in the late 90’s, this store was great but being grown up now I expect better service. Maybe they’ve changed but after over 10 visits of the same crummy service I’m not sure I want to find out.

I think Sanctuary is an awesome store. I love the atmosphere, it’s dark and spooky and they have lots of cool things. My complain is I don’t always feel comfortable just wandering around and looking through the various items. The staff are friendly enough I feel like I’m being constantly watched and followed around the store. You have to request to go into the back to see the clothing, which I don’t like and therefore I rarely go back there. The few times I have, the sales person has just stood around staring at me looking at clothes and I just haven’t felt comfortable to really browse or try on anything. Maybe they’ve had a problem with theft, but I just feel a bit awkward in the store. Otherwise it’s a really interesting and unique store with lots to offer.

This store has some cool stuff but I won’t bother ever going back. They make you leave your bags at the front and I hate doing that because employees are not always honest or might accidentally break my items. So I cooperated left my bag. Then I asked to see the clothes. I waited around forever for an employee to let me in because your not allowed there unaccompanied by an employee. I felt like the employee was creeping me to make sure I wasn’t stealing (which I would never do to begin with) so I left due to the fact I did not feel comfortable. Then I had to wait again to get my bag back from the employee at the front. She was having a conversation with some person (who was a customer) compleatly unrelated to anything in the store. She could of paused the conversation and asked if I needed help. I spent more time waiting around like an idiot in the store then anything. Would not recommend.

This shop is cool, but the owner isn’t as nice to his customers as he should be.
When you’re asking people to pay way more than they would for hair dye anywhere else, give them good service.
While I understand the No Food or Drinks rule, I don’t think that should apply to me eating a single twizzler at the counter, not touching anything.
I’ll still keep going in there to look at stuff, but I probably won’t buy anything that I know I can get online or at another shop in Edmonton.
If you want Punky Colour Hair Dye, go to Shoppers on Whyte and 109, they have all the colors for 10.99 instead of 15.

I shop here mainly because they are one of the best places in town to get corsets. Some people are going to tell you that the prices are outrageous, but shop around; for a well constructed, properly boned corset that can be used for tight lacing, you’re going to be paying upwards of $ 300. That’s just how it goes. The last time I was one the hunt for a good true fit corset, the girl who was helping me was great. She answered all my questions and showed me all the options that were in the store. I don’t dress even remotely goth, and sometimes the staff can be a little harsh because of that, but I’m tiny and I need a corset that will fit properly. Most off the rack (lingerie) corsets are too big. If you’re looking for an actual corset, this is the place to be.
They also have tones of curios, books and other swag for anyone in to goth, wicca or new age.

While I like a lot of the items in the store, I will not be going back. I have shopped there twice and both times the same sales person was incredibly rude. I even asked him why he being such an ass and he told me that he could care less if I shopped there or not and that my opinion didn’t matter. Fine with me. There are other stores in the city that carry the same items and appreciate my business.
Also they do not do returns or exchanges not matter what. Buy something for $ 210 there that has a defect? Doesn’t matter. They tell you to contact the manufacturer. I wish I could give zero stars for customer service.

I’m not sure why this store has so many positive reviews. Maybe it is because I am in my 40’s (as opposed to 20’s or 30’s) but I found the shop to be dark, very crowded & disorganized and not at all appealing (to me)
The clothing, while interesting, is not the best-​made clothing I have seen but I suppose for a young goth girl, the prices and styles are OK.
I went in there once and would never feel the need to go back.
It was a few years ago that I went in to see what all the fuss was about and at that time, I had to ask to go into the back clothing area as it was cordoned off from the rest of the store. Then the salesgirl followed me around, watching my every move.
I did not like it at all… sorry.
(This is my first negative review and I apologize for it but I had to tell the truth)

Own a number of rah rah tutu’s from here, as well as a steel boned corset. Found exactly what I wanted but it seemed like the hours posted were an estimate at best. I went by twice during the hours posted on the door but the place was closed, so I tried calling before my next trip to verify the hours only to get a voicemail saying they don’t answer the phone so they can better focus on the clients in the shop.
Loved the stock, but I don’t go back. Too much of a hassle

A long long time ago, when I was in high school, I was goth. I visited Sanctuary all the time, mainly because back then there were not too many options in the city when it came to that style of clothing.
Back then, I was maybe a size 2 or 4. I’m talkin’ tiny. A lot of people thought I was anorexic. But, somehow, I still fit a medium or large in a lot of the clothing Sanctuary sold. That’s kind of terrifying. (I haven’t tried on anything since then, so can’t comment further.) The clothing was hit or miss when it came to quality, but this really just came down to the brands at the time. The clothing I purchased showed only minor wear and tear after years of use. Nowadays, most of the stuff in there seems to be well constructed.
I didn’t buy too much outside of that. Some accessories here and there, but not too much. They were outrageously priced back when I shopped there, and still seem to be just as outrageously priced now.
I don’t really go for the goth style these days, but I’ve popped in to the store occasionally over the years, just to see what kinds of stuff they have. The staff were very friendly and helpful when I shopped there regularly, but nowadays they seem more distant. Not that the service there is bad, but maybe my «image» (a normal graduate student) is less welcome in the shoppe.

GOTH! Thats what this store is all about. I went in for curiosities sake because I am no goth. If your into Marlyn Manson dripped in leather and death this is the place for you. I gave it 2 stars because I really can’t stand goth but mostly because everything was OUTRAGEOULSY priced.

Sanctuary is definitely a regular and favorite shop to visit for me, especially since I am a five minutes bike ride from it’s location.
Sanctuary has alot of interesting little gothic, fantasy, metal, romantic, and pagan nick-​knacks, to say the least. It can be a little overwhelming for the first-​time visitor, but the staff are friendly and are willing to help you around to store, whether you just want to have a peek at everything or if you are looking for something specific.
The downside is that it is a bit pricey, although to be fair the service is excellent and the goods they sell are great quality.
A great place to check out!

This is definitely a different kind of store. The theme that washes over you when you walk in the door is gothic and it really keeps in tune with this theme throughout the store.
I am not, nor have I ever been, a goth but I have been to this store on a couple different occasions. This place is packed with everything from clothing to accessories to books to incense.
I have purchased incense as well as books from here. The book collection focuses on new age stuff. The book I bought from here that I can remember was a dream book. It basically was a dictionary for your dreams and you could look up aspects of your dream and see what it means in your real life. It is really fun.
If you like gothic punk style, check this place out. Chances are if you are a true goth, you already have!

Sanctuary will allow you to take a walk on the Gothic side of life, or punk. or are they the same? I am not exactly sure. Either way this store is pretty neat and if you are into this kind of stuff you will love it.
It is a cozy little store packed with, like I said before, goth items. They also carry merchandise from some darker movies. Other than clothing they also carry jewelry, books, shoes and lamps. Some people might make the mistake of thinking this is a halloween related store but don’t be so ignorant. This is a lifestyle for many people and I wouldn’t even say the stuff here is over the top. Most of it would be seen as fashionable by anyone that likes to stay trendy.
You could probably find some pretty original gifts here if you know anyone who likes this kind of stuff.

Wow! was pretty much my first thought when I stepped in here. There’s just so much stuff in this shop, it’s overwhelming to the eyes. Paula was not kidding when she said they use every inch of space they have here. I didn’t even know where to begin!
Sanctuary is another shop I wouldn’t normally be found in, but it’s got some pretty awesome stuff if you like punk or gothic things. I thought it was cool they sold old war helmets and crystal balls. They had a really neat chess set too, where the pieces were dragons (or gargoyles?).
This is a great place to go for unique accessories to complete your Halloween look this year. I noticed some beautiful butterfly and fairy wings hanging from the ceiling, and these ones are different from the typical ones you see every year because they’re in funky colours and cuts. They also had some neat packaged costumes, but I was surprised to see that the Princess Leia one cost $ 100. A little too steep for me, thanks.
The shop has a dark feeling to it, but this is mixed with an aura of fantasy and magic. Dungeons and dragons, so to speak. Lots of New Age books and cards and platform leather boots. I like that they give you the feeling that anything is possible here. Pretty much whatever you can imagine, they’ll have it in this shop.

Sanctuary is all things goth. While I am personally not into the goth look or lifestyle, I always get a kick out of checking out the clothing, jewellery, books, and household items sold here. People into New Age, Wicca, punk, and other alternative lifestyles and beliefs will find all kinds of things to suite their homes and wardrobes. The store atmosphere is vibrant and cozy (don’t let the dark lighting fool you), with practically every space used to its maximum potential. Who knows — maybe you’ll find some gem or treasure even if you are not someone who usually heads to this sort of store.

Sanctuary is one of those incredibly unique stores that is always interesting and intriguing. The feel of the store is very dark, focusing mostly on things that are gothic, punk, or wiccan. But just because you don’t fit into one of those categories doesn’t mean you’re not going to find something that works for you.
I got a chunky black ring here quite a few years ago, and I get compliments on it all the time. I also got a hematite bracelet that I absolutely love. And when I used to be into Hellraiser, I would buy posters here and other horror-​related items.
Some of the statues and furniture that they get in are amazing pieces of work. The clothing section is full of beautiful designs (a lot of leather, lace, and PVC), but they are rather expensive, since they are not mass-​marketed products. The shoes they carry are really cool too – a lot of high-​heeled knee-​highs and chunky boots with buckles and shocking designs. I really do think this is one of the best independent stores we have here in Edmonton.