Downtown Haven Craft opens doors to those seeking alternative spiritual practices in Las Vegas

Ian Shields admits that sometimes people don’t know what to make of Haven Craft, the community center and gift shop at 1406 S. Third St. he co-founded with his wife, Melissa Eggstaff.

“Sometimes people will come in and look around, and they’ll see something that freaks them out,” Shields said. “They run right out the door, even though we try to make it obvious from the outside what kind of place we are.”

Haven Craft has been at the location near the edge of the 18b Arts District for a year and a half, opening the center to witches, pagans or any other alternative form of spirituality that needs a place to meet, gather or perform rituals.

“We’re an interfaith community center for people of alternative religion and spirituality,” Eggstaff said. “The gift shop entirely pays for that. Ian and I don’t draw a salary from it; all of the gift shop profits sink right back into our community efforts.”

The location originally opened as a gift shop with a community center space inside. The couple had been selling their own products, including essential oils and mixed teas, at another witchcraft-oriented shop, but when that closed, they decide to try their hand at running a store. They quickly discovered that their interest and focus was more in providing a meeting and community space and transitioned into a 501(3)(c) charity.

“There’s a big community of pagans, spiritualists and seeking people in town,” Shields said. “There are a lot of circles, covens, groves, camps … the term varies depending on the ‘denomination,’ for lack of a better term. They don’t advertise, and unless you already know something exists, it’s hard to find it.”

The couple have an understanding and connections with a large variety of groups and keep pamphlets from several on hand. They often field questions from individuals who have left or been dropped from a more traditional or fundamentalist religion due to sexual orientation but who are still seeking spirituality and a connection to something larger than themselves.

“We try to be a no-pressure means of people to find what they’re looking for,” Eggstaff said. “We have a zero tolerance harassment policy. So come hang out, and if it works for you, great. If it doesn’t, there are other options we can recommend, like the Community Church, the Unitarian Universalist church or the Interfaith Council.”

Among the events and classes that take place at Haven Craft are fundraisers for other like-minded organizations, queer pagan youth night, clothing drives, food drives, open rituals that people of any faith are allowed to attend and classes in topics including herbalism, exercise, self-defense, tarot, recycled candle making and more.

“We’re working with The Rape Crisis Center on a support circle for people in the spiritual community who have been abused by someone in spiritual authority over them,” Eggstaff said. “It’s one of several support circles we have.”

Haven Craft also organizes several events a year in campgrounds and parks, notably an event in October at Paradise Park, 4775 McLeod Drive, where representatives from several groups have a table explaining what they do on Halloween.

“For instance, one group showed how to make a broom, and another group showed how to paint a sugar skull,” Shields said. “They have candy at each table, so you sort of trick or treat from booth to booth.”

Paradise Park is centrally located in the valley and less expensive to use than the nearby and more popular Sunset Park. Although it’s one of the county’s oldest parks, there is no historical or spiritual significance for the event being held there.

“It has a great handicapped-accessible restroom,” Eggstaff said. “It has a great jungle gym and a soft lawn for the kids.”

To reach East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor, email ataylor@viewnews.com or call 702-380-4532.