We had the good fortune of connecting with Sal Santoro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sal, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When we first considered opening The Crooked Path, a lot of people cautioned us against it—“Brick and mortar is dead,” they’d say. But my wife (then fiancée) and I kept coming back to this vision of creating a welcoming, hands-on environment for practitioners of every level. We wanted a space that showcased unique products—often made by local artisans like us—and where customers could truly explore and connect with the craft in person.

Yes, the risks felt daunting, and we spent plenty of nights weighing whether we could really pull it off. But ultimately, we believed people still crave real-life community and personal interaction. That belief pushed us forward to open our doors in August 2017. Since then, we’ve navigated the ups and downs of running a small shop, learned how to adapt, and discovered the joy of building authentic relationships with our customers and neighbors. Today, The Crooked Path has become a gathering place for those eager to learn, share, and find that sense of connection you can’t always replicate online. Looking back, I’m glad we trusted our instincts and stuck with the vision—because seeing our community come together around what we love is what drives us every day.

What should our readers know about your business?
At The Crooked Path, we’ve always viewed ourselves as more than just a shop—we see our shop as being a community hub. We curate a broad selection of occult supplies, including books, crystals, handcrafted goods by local artisans, and we even a public temple to the Goddess Hekate, because we believe that authenticity and real human connections are key.

Getting to where we are wasn’t a straight shot. There were plenty of ups and downs: navigating the unknown, dealing with skeptics who questioned the viability of a physical storefront, and figuring out how to share our vision in a way that felt genuine. Through it all, we learned the power of perseverance and staying true to our roots. By offering hands-on experiences—like in-person classes and events—we’ve built a space where people can truly explore and connect.

If there’s one thing we want folks to know about The Crooked Path, it’s that our story is rooted in a genuine love for the craft and a commitment to building a supportive community around it. We’re proud to be part of a living tradition that grows and evolves with every person who walks through our doors. That sense of shared passion and curiosity drives everything we do—and it’s what continues to guide us forward every day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a huge shoutout to my most important mentor, George Derby. Back in the mid-90s, when I worked at Panpipes in Hollywood—one of the country’s most iconic occult shops—George took me under his wing and profoundly shaped my understanding of magick and philosophy. His generosity, wisdom, and support have stayed with me all these years, and I’m forever grateful for his guidance.

Website: https://www.thecrookedpathshop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrookedpath_la

Image Credits
The one image of the store front is taken by Robbiee Zee. She has given permission to use it editorially.

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