Déjà Vu Esoterica Celebrates Its 4th Anniversary in a Haunted House

Déjà Vu Esoterica is celebrating their 4th anniversary inside the picturesque historic 100 year-old house they call home in Southtown. They’ve been operating in harmony with the spirits who inhabit the shop since they opened in 2022. The presence of multiple ghosts have been picked up on and discussed by countless visitors to the shop, but one in particular made himself known. His presence was confirmed by psychic medium Whitney Noland, “Given my abilities, I was very drawn to the cast iron railing on the wall. While looking at it I picked up on a young boy’s soul attached to it that looked to be from the late 1800’s. It was also confirmed by others who felt him around as well.”

The shop’s owner Gem Hotvet, and interior designer Regina de la Garza unwittingly integrated these haunted artifacts into the shop’s décor after purchasing them from Architectural Antiques in late summer 2022. Some folks found them buried in the riverbank along the Colorado River, likely deposited there during a flood. The origin of the antique lamb and willow cast-iron that hangs at Déjà Vu was revealed by architectural historian Nicholas Fuquah, who reads tarot cards at the shop once a week. “The cast iron cemetery fencing in the shop is probably from 1850 or so. Weeping willows and lambs were common iconography in cemeteries. Weeping willows represent sorrow. The lamb represents eternal life. Lambs also indicated the burial place of children, as they were pure and innocent souls,” said Nicholas. So, these pieces of cast iron were likely fencing from a children’s portion of a graveyard.

“The first year we were open was filled with flickering lights, books flying off shelves, and other unsettling but benign activity. It has chilled out quite a bit since then.” says Gem.