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Keeping myths and legends alive in Salt Lake City

Gypsy Moon Emporium is a small local shop located in the 9th and 9th neighborhood. The store specializes in products pertaining to myths, legends, fairytales, and folklore. Photos by Alisa Scott

Gypsy Moon Emporium is a small local shop located in the 9th and 9th neighborhood. The store specializes in products pertaining to myths, legends, fairytales, and folklore. Photos by Alisa Scott

Fairies, dragons and trolls are just a few topics to explore when visiting Gypsy Moon Emporium, a local store that specializes in myths, legends, fairy tales, folklore and harboring feral cats.

Gypsy Moon Emporium, located at 1011 E. 900 South, sells various products including books, CDs, jewelry, journals and more. The store also sells products relating to Griffins for Westminster students looking to learn something more about their mascot.

The store was founded on a deep interest in myths, legends and folklore that the owners of the store have shared for a long time.

“My interest in those things has never changed in decades,” said R. Rauni, store owner and manager.

Some Westminster students share a similar interest in these topics.

“I think myths, legends, fairytales and folklore are fascinating because they are elaborate and colorful stories but almost always rooted in some historical event or moral,” said Hunter Reed, junior environmental chemistry major. “I think these can be very good ways to get children and adults alike interested in history and literature.”

Gypsy Moon Emporium, a small store located 1100 E. 900 South, contains mostly bookshelves and is decorated with Celtic decorations and the occasional cat. Rauni, the store's owner, said she thinks the store appeals to people who like things from the past.

Gypsy Moon Emporium, a small store located 1100 E. 900 South, contains mostly bookshelves and is decorated with Celtic decorations and the occasional cat. Rauni, the store’s owner, said she thinks the store appeals to people who like things from the past.

Rauni, owner of Gypsy Moon Emporium, said people can learn a lot from these topics.

“Myths and legends often have a moral,” Rauni said. “They parallel things that are going on in the real world, but they’re just told in a more fanciful way.”

In addition to a love for myths and legends, Rauni has a love for animals. Rauni cares for four feral cats in the neighborhood of the store. A few of the cats run from customers and tend to remain outside more, but one or two go into the store more often, people watching and interacting with the store’s customers.

Reed, junior environmental chemistry major, said she has never been to the store but is interested in going there after hearing about it.

“It sounds like a unique shop where you can find rare gifts that you would be unable to find elsewhere,” Reed said. “Celtic designs are fascinating to me. I have read a lot about them and you don’t often find jewelry with these intricate patterns, particularly in Utah.”

Rauni, owner of the Gypsy Moon Emporium, said she wants people to feel a connection when they come into the store.

“I think that our store would appeal to people who like things from the past,” Rauni said.

Rauni also said that myths and legends would likely interest people if they are interested in the superhero stories that have become popular lately.

“If you’re interested in things like that, you’re probably going to be interested in myths and legends, too,” Rauni said.

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