A vintage settee and historic photographs reflect the building's past as Colorado's oldest pharmacy, a history Johnston has lovingly incorporated into the shop's design.

Photo by Mindy Leary

Antique furniture, loose teas, books, and houseplants adorn the inside of the new oddity shop at 107 Eureka Street in Central City.

Photo by Mindy Leary

Owner Jamie Johnston holds one of the tea infusers available at House of Odditeas.

Photo by Mindy Leary

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CENTRAL CITY — As I strolled down Eureka Street one sunny afternoon, I could hear the sounds of the bustling little city, vibrant with activity.  

The soprano notes of an opera singer, the chirping of birds, and the faint chatter of passersby were remarkable, and as I paused, I noticed a new storefront. 

The sign read that it was a house of oddities, which immediately piqued my interest. Once inside, I met the owner, Jamie Johnston, a young, petite woman with far more knowledge than I on the subjects of herbs, teas, and healing concoctions.

She pointed out the shop's name is a play on words. While it may look like "House of Oddities" at first glance, the ending spells "teas," signaling the fact that it is also a tea shop. 

The storefront occupies what was once Colorado's oldest pharmacy, a piece of local history that inspired much of the store's design and inventory. 

Johnston said she wanted to bring some of that apothecary tradition back by offering herbs and teas alongside metaphysical products.

Apropos, I thought—that a building once filled with prescriptions is now again stocked with remedies.

Today, instead of medicine bottles, the shelves at House of OddiTeas hold handcrafted tea blends, large jars of loose herbs, crystals, essential oils, and vintage books. 

The shop opened in late June just as the 2026 opera season began, and from what I could tell, a fair amount of foot traffic was derived from it. 

For Johnston, the location was just as important as the business itself. "I fell in love with this building," she said.

The upstairs still contains original apothecary drawers and a historic staircase preserved by the Gilpin County Historical Society. 

Johnston said her interest in herbs began long before opening the store. She grew up gardening and developed a fascination with medicinal plants, eventually combining that passion with a love of collecting unusual and vintage items. The result is a shop that mixes the practical with intriguing curios.

Customers can buy individual herbs for $3 an ounce or have Johnston create personalized blends for $6 an ounce based on flavor preferences and intended use. She can also walk you through how to brew the loose herbs using infusers, steeping mugs, or teapots (there are several types and sizes to choose from).

The store is stocked with dozens of organic herbs like chamomile, calendula, rosemary, valerian root, mugwort, damiana, blue pea flower, and yerba mate. 

She also carries her own signature blends, including zodiac-themed teas and a blend known as “Calm Down, Baby Doe” that has become popular with operagoers for obvious reasons.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all products, Johnston starts each interaction with a conversation.

If someone comes in looking for help winding down before bed, for example, she asks about allergies and flavor preferences before recommending ingredients like valerian root, lavender, lemon balm, or peppermint. 

Alongside the teas are crystals, essential oils, tarot decks, pendulums, rough minerals, vintage books, antique décor, smoked salts, and handmade face mists. 

Many of the displays are housed in antique furniture that Johnston and her partner procured from auctions, estate sales, and Central City itself. The attention to detail was impressive.

I noticed a small refrigerator and eyed some vegan chocolate truffles (which, of course, I had to sample) produced by Missionary Chocolates. These decadent treats come in flavors including local lavender, Meyer lemon, smoked cherrywood, pinot noir, salted caramel, whiskey, blackberry, and fig with balsamic vinegar.

But back to the building. The shop is witchy and carries enough elegance to fit right in with Eureka Street.  It will surely be an asset during Central's upcoming spooky season.

The House of Odditeas joins a growing collection of locally-owned businesses along the avenue perpendicular to Main Street. It’s just steps from the Central City Opera House, Bravo Italiano Caffè, the Gilpin Arts Association, and other downtown shops that bring tourists during the summer season. 

Johnston spent months transforming the building before opening. She said that she and her partner began renovations in January, stripping old carpeting, refinishing floors, hand-painting much of the interior, and creating a brighter, more welcoming space than the antique store that previously occupied the building.

Looking ahead, Johnston hopes to expand beyond retail by offering workshops, community gatherings, and possibly a full tea service once the upstairs renovation is complete. 

For now, though, she's focused on getting established and helping customers discover something they weren't expecting.

Whether it’s a custom tea blend, a vintage tarot deck, or a lavender chocolate truffle, curious delight is sure to follow.

The House of Odditeas is at 107 Eureka Street, Central City, and is open Thursday - Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Hear Leary's Central City sound bite in the Friday, Aug. 14 edition of The Mountain-Ear podcast by visiting The Mountain-Ear.