Marysville’s downtown district welcomed a new Victorian-themed curio shop, Krazy Whyte Hare, which opened its doors on 4th Street in September 2024. Owner Duane Hoskins, 72, a regional artist with roots in Loma Rica and a graduate of Marysville High School, established the emporium to offer a distinctive shopping experience rooted in Gilded Age aesthetics and an array of unusual items.
The shop is filled with a kaleidoscopic collection of curios, designed to immerse visitors in an atmosphere reminiscent of British author Lewis Carroll’s *Alice in Wonderland*. Its inventory includes a wide range of oddities, such as memorabilia from the classic British tale, antique tools, metaphysical items, and fantasy figurines. Among its specific features are a "reflecting mirror" that presents a red-garbed Alice, various skulls—some misshapen—kerosene lanterns, and shelves stocked with darkly gothic books, including Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein*. Clocks are also prominently featured, with Hoskins noting their connection to the White Rabbit character from Carroll’s stories.
Duane Hoskins, describing himself as a "Victorian-era history buff," aims to create what he calls a "time shift" for customers, carefully removing anything anachronistic to maintain the period ambiance. Hoskins also embodies his artistic vision by wearing Victorian garb while at the shop, considering his clothing a manifestation of the art he creates and an embodiment of his personal aesthetics, as he told a local news report. He further explained that setting everything in a Victorian context helps "brings it alive."
Hoskins's girlfriend, Kelly Ackelvein, frequently contributes to the shop's immersive atmosphere, often greeting visitors dressed in costumes such as the Queen of Hearts or the Red Queen, featuring a black and white checkered skirt, a red corset and coat, and her own top hat. Ackelvein told a local news report that her costume changes "every week," making it a fun and evolving presentation. She characterized her role as being "just there for backup," expressing her enjoyment for the shop and Hoskins’s "wicked sense of humor."
The Krazy Whyte Hare has quickly garnered a reputation in Marysville as a "treasure trove of the unexpected," according to a local news report. Hoskins described the shop as a "habitual haunt for locals craving the esoteric and arcane," and a "magnet attracting regulars from neighboring counties." Its distinctive collection has even drawn the attention of film producers seeking unique production props. The shop caters to a remarkably diverse clientele, as Hoskins explained to a local news report, ranging from young children purchasing wands to elderly customers who collect items like skeletons, skulls, or medical books. He noted the difficulty in categorizing the type of person drawn to the shop, highlighting its appeal to a broad spectrum, including many parents bringing their children.
Ultimately, Hoskins views the store as an extension of his personality and his lifelong credo of creating art that brings happiness, acknowledging that "the art has morphed into the store." The Krazy Whyte Hare on 4th Street operates various hours each day of the week, remaining closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
