Creepy Conversation with Karavan’s Evan Sentes
For October we thought it was fitting to share the story of Evan Sentes, the owner of Karavan: Curios and Collectables. He shared how the store came to be and how it has created a community of Regina people with unique interests.
Where did the name Karavan come from?
Karavan is a combination of my wife’s name as well as my own, her name is Karmyn with a K, and my name is Evan. We Usually need to specify that we spell Karavan with a “k”, not a “c”. This project was started by me and my wife.
How did Karavan come to be?
It started out because I always wanted to start my own business but never really narrowed down what kind of business I wanted to own. I have tried a few things here and there; I didn’t feel like it was 100% what I wanted to do. When I met my wife, we both had a dream of opening a store like this together. When I realized I was putting more effort into my job than it was worth, I decided “I can be putting this effort into myself” and here we are!
Did you always have an interest in horror?
Not really horror, but more so weird things like ghosts, aliens, cryptids, and monsters - anything weird. I’m not really a horror expert, so when people come in to talk about horror movies I’m often the one getting the recommendations from customers on what to watch. I don’t really watch much anymore, I’m too involved in the store at the moment.
What is a memorable moment since opening the store?
I think our most exciting moment was our first day! We didn’t have a Facebook page, only an Instagram. When we first opened my biggest fear was that I would be sitting around with no customers, but it was really nice to see the community interest and people coming through the doors.
Why did you open a curiosity store?
I have always been interested in this sort of stuff, and I realized there wasn’t anywhere that filled that need in the community. We don’t want to be like a big chain that hides all of the Halloween stuff when it’s not October, we want to be like that all of the time. Some customers have visited from big cities like Vancouver and Los Angeles and have made comments about not having a shop like this in their city, and it’s really nice that I can be that store for Regina.
Where did the Cabinet of Curiosity items come from? Which is your favourite?
Some of the items came from my personal collection. Most were bought through auctions throughout Canada as well as just checking out shops here and there around Canada. My personal favorite was a post-mortem photo that drew a ton of interest from customers, although we no longer have it.
What do you think is something that is misunderstood about horror?
That there are people into this stuff year-round. Some people have their houses decorated with some weird stuff not just at Halloween. I think that when you’re into this sort of thing year-round, and when there isn’t a place to shop when it's not October, but with the store open year-round, we have created a space where people can enjoy things year-round.
What is your favourite thing you have in the store?
I would have to say our giant skeleton that we got on the roof, he’s has always been my favorite, he’s not for sale though.
How do you want people to feel after visiting Karavan?
I want people to come in and enjoy themselves, and have an experience. The store can feel overwhelming at times, often customers will have to do multiple laps around the store so that they feel like they didn’t miss anything in the store.
What is the future of Karavan?
The future is us hopefully still in this location. We want to get an online shop up and running for customers out of town to be able to shop. In November of last year, we did an art exhibition in our first smaller space where artists could sell their artworks that are a little funky and strange. This year we will be having another sale on November 18th at the German Club. Last year we had 11 artists participate, and this year we have over 20 and currently have a waitlist. We’re also hoping to do more art shows in the future.
What does the community mean to you?
When I first started the store I wasn’t all that focused on community, but I feel like now the store is evolving into it’s own community where people come into the store and are able to meet each other at the store and make connections through us. I've been invited to weddings, and I never thought that opening the store would lead to all of these connections.
What does Halloween mean to you?
To me Halloween means fun, it has always been a fun time of year to me. It’s a time when everyone gets weird, the fall scenery is nice, and seeing everyone get their yards set up with zombies and what not always puts a smile on my face. I have always enjoyed this time of year.
