Romarin et Corbeaux — Calhoun County’s Most Colorful Curiosity Shop

If you haven’t noticed that Downtown Anniston is evolving into one of the trendiest places to hang out in Calhoun County, then perhaps a curiosity shop will entice you to Noble Street! Romarin et Corbeaux, owned by Aubrey Fullbright, is actually in its fourth year but relocated to Anniston from Oxford in June 2024. With its eclectic, antique storefront nestled amid other business fixtures like Classic on Noble and Main Street Anniston, this colorful, unique store is the perfect addition to the community.

More Than an Ordinary Store

To define it simply, Romarin et Corbeaux is a metaphysical bookshop — a store that sells metaphysical books and products focused on a person’s overall spiritual well being. Aubrey shared that she grew up in metaphysical stores, and the creation of her own sprung from a joke she made to her husband while complaining about their long commutes to Birmingham or Atlanta to visit this type of shopping establishment. “….We should just open one ourselves.” To which he simply replied, “Okay.” Aubrey laughed as she relayed the tale of its beginning. “I took him up on it and was like, ‘cool.’”

They originally opened in a small space on Quintard, but grew more quickly than anticipated, so moved to Oxford. They’ve had no problems retaining a growing customer base who was willing to follow them to their new, spacious store in downtown Anniston. Aubrey stressed that her shop is more than just a bookstore selling products, but carries a purpose that is important to her.

“I guess our mission, or our reason for doing this, is that we wanted a space where people could come in, ask questions and learn, without any judgment. We also wanted to be a kind of community hub for all religions and all cultures–a resource center for people to get supplies or whatever needed to practice their religion freely, regardless of what kind of religion that is.”

Besides locals, they attract a lot of customers from outside Calhoun County from towns like Wedowee to cities as far away as Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Atlanta, and even Chattanooga. When asked why people would drive all that way to visit her shop, Aubrey replied, “A lot of times, these kinds of stores will have a theme or a feel, but we try to be a very neutral space. We do carry things that aren’t really found around here, and again have resources, but, I think a big part of it is–we’re told that everyone really enjoys the space. They can come in and it’s very relaxing and accepting.”

Another factor that contributes to their foot traffic from city folk is the atmosphere. I had to agree as I scoped out the dimly lit room outfitted with whimsical alcoves for lounging. One area had an inviting fireplace with comfortable sets of antique armchairs on either side. Over each set were hand painted hanging wall murals framed as if you were looking out of large windows. One depicts a lake surrounding a medieval tower, while the other portrays a Southeastern swamp at sunset in vibrant bursts of purple and orange hues framing dark silhouettes of cypress trees with hanging moss.

What’s particularly attractive about the store is the variety within the decor. Bookshelves of varying sizes and designs, many glowing from the lights configured behind them, encase alluring displays of everything from books to candles to bodycare products to crystals in as many colorful arrangements as one could imagine. The mix of antique and modern throw rugs adds another layer to the eyecandy within.

While travelers are treated to a unique curiosity shop worth the drive, Romarin et Corbeau offers locals a one-stop shopping experience without having to commute to find the particular things sold there.

Aubrey added, “I think also, there’s a nice shift of…while it’s very convenient to buy everything online, you come into the store where you get a full experience to buy the books that you need–you can get them off Amazon–but it’s kind of nice to go into a store and a book that is not really mainstream, you can find it here.”

Products and Services Offered

Romarin et Corbeaux offers a treasure trove of curiosities, each corner showcasing something new to discover. For example, the shop’s extensive selection of loose herbs is perfect for crafting teas, medicines, or even homemade candles and lotions. For those who prefer their herbal concoctions ready-made, a variety of tea blends are available in different sizes. The aromatic journey continues with their collection of bath, anointing, and perfume oils, including custom herbal baths for any occasion – because who doesn’t need a little magical self-care now and then?

Bookworms will be delighted with an abundance of shelves stocked with books covering topics like Christianity, Stoicism, Animism, Metaphysics, and more. They also carry a selection of children’s books. Other products include photographs, greeting cards, tapestries, home decor, and other colorful, curious trinkets.

Candle enthusiasts will find a diverse range of options, from chime candles for intimate rituals to elegant beeswax tapers for tabletops. The impressive incense selection features sticks, resins, and cones, while the shop’s collection of ethically sourced crystals offers a guilt-free way to indulge in some sparkle. 

Aubrey stressed that their products come from small businesses they’ve cultivated relationships with (rather than large distributors) in order to uplift and support them. For example, the hem incense they carry is actually purchased directly from a family in India. They source their crystals from two different locations. One is a small mining community in northern Brazil where the workers are reimbursed with fair wages so that everything she buys from them goes back into the community. The other location is in Canada, which obtains its products from small, artisanal mines. Some of its clear quartz comes from the U.S. in places such as Arkansas.

She also mentioned that they carry soap from Baker Bars Soapery because that business’s owner is of Choctaw Indian heritage. Aubrey wanted to pay homage to the fact that Choctaws once inhabited the western part of Alabama. “I think it’s important to acknowledge who we are and who we pushed out [by having] a product…that brings Choctaw back to Alabama.”

Afton’s Bodyworks is a body care service that focuses on varying massage and spa offerings including Ashiatsu, Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Cupping, Hot Stones, Integrated Stretching, Satvic Polarity, Craniosacral, Unwinding, and Medical Qigong. These services are available by appointment, as well as one-on-one bookings with a medium.

I had a conversation with one patron of the store who met with their resident medium Carrie. The patron had never visited a psychic before but was curious to try. They had an initial conversation in which Carrie explained who she was and what would transpire. She encouraged the participant to record the meeting for future reference.

The patron went in skeptical, but was shocked when the medium mentioned a mother or mother-in-law figure, described what the woman looked like, her interactions with her pet cats, etc. She was amazed because around 5 months ago, her ex mother-in-law, who she’d been very close to, had been murdered–an event that had brought her much sorrow. 

The fact that the medium seemed to see things about her life left her willing to follow Carrie’s advice not to worry about her son, and to slow down on the pace of her life in general. One detail that really hit home was Carrie mentioned a very specific name (this particular name is very unusual) which turned out to be her ex husband’s sister-in-law’s name. The patron felt comfortable during her appointment, would consider trying it again, and added, “I would highly recommend anyone to go who may be curious about it. It was a good experience.” 

Special Events at Romarin et Corbeaux

The shop’s commitment to being a community hub is evident in its monthly events calendar. Whether you’re looking to explore divination through their Psychic Circle, bathe in healing sounds in the Sound Healing class, or simply enjoy some silent reading time with like-minded individuals at the Silent Book Club, attendance is only a sign-up away. Other offerings include the spirituality-focused Intro to Buddhism class, or the Beginners Ashtanga Yoga for those who enjoy a physical (blended with spiritual) workout in a relaxed, calm atmosphere. A Poetry Hour, offering free poetry readings with an open discussion of their meaning and relevance is also in the works. 

While some of these events are free, others range from $10 – $45, depending on the specific class. Sign-up in advance is necessary, as the size of these events is typically limited to between 10 and 15 individuals. Aubrey related that the classes tend to fill up, so securing your spot is a must. A few special events are open to larger crowds like their bi-yearly hosting of the ongoing The Strange South podcast, recorded live in the store, where up to 40 people may attend.

As we wrapped up our chat, Aubrey expressed how happy she is in her new location on Noble Street, given all of the growth that has occurred. Her desire to support the local community at large, coupled with being a part of and uplifting downtown Anniston, is a win-win scenario. 

Romarin et Corbeaux is located at 1020 Noble Street, Anniston, Alabama. Its hours of operation are Monday – Saturday 10 am – 7 pm, and Sunday 12-5 pm. For inquiries, to sign up for an event, or to book a one-on-one appointment, you can call (256) 403-1549 or email romarincorbeaux@gmail.com.