This goth shop near Kendall brought the community together. Now it’s closing

Miami-Dade County admin June 22, 2026 0 Comments

This goth shop near Kendall brought the community together. Now it’s closing

Jim Jones never intended to become the owner of Miami’s only alternative fashion store. He’s not really a goth.

But in the past few years, his shop Freak House, located near Downtown Dadeland in Kendall, became the go-to spot for fashion-forward goths looking for platform boots, silver chains, dragon figurines and an array of funky fashion. Now, what many customers claim is the only store of its kind within 200 miles, is set to close on June 26.

Freak House developed loyal customer base. With over 9,000 followers on Instagram, owners Jones and his wife Ana curated a strong social media presence that created a steady stream of familiar shoppers. Jones says he had customers drive down from Orlando, Tampa, and even a teenager who flew in from Buenos Aires to visit the store in person.

But slow sales and high rent forced the couple to close up the shop, they said.

“We feel like we’ve let them down,” Jones said of his loyal customers. “It’s one thing to give up on your own dream. It’s something else entirely different when you let down a community.”

The shop provided a third space for a small but tight-knit community that the Joneses stumbled into after selling figurines of dragons, skulls, mythical creatures at the Youth Fair and Redlands flea market. Their customers started to ask for specific merchandise, and Jones knew there was an opportunity.

“We didn’t necessarily know much about [the alternative community],” he said. “But we basically just started listening to the customers, bringing in the things that they were asking for, and duh, they liked it.”

Madison Sobrino, 20, has been a staunch supporter of Freak House after coming across their table at the youth fair.

As more places like Freak House and Wynwood bar Gramps begin to close, she said it’s getting harder to find a place where people in the scene can gather.

“It’s hard to find a third space,” Sobrino said. “There’s plenty of alternative people so it kind of sucks to see.”

At Freak House, she enjoyed talking with staff and finding pieces that fit her aesthetic. She even remembers buying sandals with little bats on them, having never been able to buy alternative beach wear.

“It’s very tailored toward what you actually want to buy without having to sift through everything at Goodwill,” she said. “That’s a place where you can go and feel confident in what you’re purchasing.”

Gretel Barreto, 24, said the store always felt like a safe space and she was able to hang out with staff and connect with other members of the community. She was excited when she learned Miami had a goth store other than Hot Topic. It was better than always having to search for clothes online.

“If you’re like me, I am very tall and a little curvy, so you can’t try stuff on,” Barreto said. “The fact that this is here was incredible.”

While the shop will close Jones will continue to sell original Freak House merchandise online while he and his wife focus on retirement. But Jones says his time with Freak House regulars is something he will always remember.

“We tried really hard to make every single person that walked through the door feel welcome and at home,” Jones said. “I think that we’re actually going to leave a gap in the community.”