How To Make A Killing In Business

The Inquirer profiled Harry’s Occult Shop in Sunday’s paper, part of the paper’s attempt to reclaim the magic of the paper’s glory days by re-writing the same stories from its glory days. (Bada-bing!)

The Harry’s article (by Julie Stoiber) is actually pretty decent. Here’s what I learned: Apparently, these kinds of shops used to be everywhere. Awesome. One of Harry’s most prominent products is for “court case ritual,” so whenever big lawyers need to win cases, I guess they go there.

The article also contains this awesome quote from Harry’s worker Chac-Mool, regarding the store’s clientèle:

“With politicians, sometimes we have to take the stuff out where they’re parked,” he said. “They don’t want to be seen.”

Awesome. The idea that our politicians are buying white magic materials — instead of something sensible like putting a statue of Mary in their windows to prevent rain — makes me feel that the city’s gun violence problem will be solved any day now.

Of course, our politicians are probably using magic to try to end violence, as opposed to Shane Brown:

Retiree Mary Armour, 62, of North Philadelphia, is among the customers who turn to Harry’s staff of readers, priestesses and advisers. She wanted Double Jinx Remover Bath. Shane Brown, 32, an undertaker with a new business, was looking for something “to get the business to pick up and stay up.”

Are you kidding? People are dying to use Shane Brown’s services. Sorry, sorry.

For hexed or vexed, a store casts its spell [Inquirer]