Who We Are
Hi, we’re Katie & Hunter, the goths behind the counter! Nightshade opened on Black Friday 2025 in Westwood, NJ, and honestly it’s the shop we always wished existed.
Why We Started
The goth scene’s never been short on spirit, just short on daytime spaces — for years the only real place to gather was the club, after dark, and we love that world and we’re part of it too. We just wanted somewhere the same community could show up as themselves in the sunlight, over a good cup of coffee, not instead of the nightlife but alongside it.
Why “Nightshade”
The name’s always led a bit of a double life — the Romans thought it was poison, Renaissance women used it as a beauty trick, and folklore ties it to witches and ritual, so it felt like the right fit for a shop built on things that are beautiful and a little dangerous at the same time.
What We’re About
We spend most of our time obsessing over the music, art, fashion, and makeup that make up the gothic subculture we’re part of, and if we’re honest, this shop is really just an excuse to finally put our own collection of oddities, antiques, and furniture out where people can see it. Whether you’ve been part of the goth scene for twenty years or you’re wandering in curious for the first time, we’re happy to have you join us.
Come Say Hi
We’re open Wednesday through Monday, 8am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays. Come for the coffee, stay for the company!
— Katie & Hunter
