Dallas’ Curiosities the Garage Is a High-Octane Spot for Gifts

What do black velvet paintings of Che Guevara, taxidermy buffalo heads and purple Harley-Davidsons have in common?

They’re just a few of the treasures you’ll find in the brand-new shop Curiosities the Garage. Located next to the antique store of the same name at 8916 Garland Road, this former repair shop-turned-boutique is a fresh outpost specializing in antique transportation, signs and industrial accents.

The boutique seems like a natural extension of owner Jason Cohen’s oddity empire, which includes Ephemeral Gallery. In 2006, he opened the first iteration of his eclectic boutique with his mother, Terry, in Lakewood. Curiosities relocated and expanded to Garland Road in 2015, gaining a national reputation for its quirky mix of the weird and wonderful.

Throughout the years, Cohen kept his eye on the pink building next door. As parking on that particular retail strip was minimal at best, he decided it made more sense to take over the 2,500-square-foot space when its former owner, the White Rock Garage, decided to close shop.

“Our business has gotten very busy in the last year or two, and the parking situation has gotten more hectic,” Cohen says. “So, when [the owner] retired, he offered me the building to rent. At first, we were a little apprehensive, but it’s just such a cool space I couldn’t turn it down. The space really spoke to me, and I thought I could turn it into a bad-ass shop.”

As the high ceilings and industrial vibe were already firmly in place, it made sense for Cohen to lean into a masculine racer vibe with a focused look and feel. He already had a lot of stuff stashed away, such as oversized carnival banners and vintage badges, so layering in items like scooters, motorcycles and antique barber chairs was an easy addition.

“I had a lot of that kind of stuff consigned, so I thought I could start building into motorcycles and vintage cars and things that are big and need to be seen differently, like big neon pieces and gas pumps. I’ve got people creating custom furniture as well.”

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He leaned on his friend Gary Buckner of Stash Design to give the space an updated feel, which is not specifically “man cave” yet still masculine. Taking the summer to source treasures such as vintage Vespas and a restored 1960s purple Harley used in the recent Tom Hardy film The Bikeriders, Cohen developed an eclectic mix of treasures for every budget. Shoppers can find woodsy candles for $25 or take home a fully restored bike formerly owned by the tattoo artist Oliver Peck for $7,500. Vintage gas pumps from the ’30s and ’40s retail for around 5k, and classic issues of Playboy go for 20 bucks a pop.

Cohen knows his stuff  – he was raised going to the Canton Flea Market with his parents, who were antique dealers, and he’s been a purveyor of the unique since he opened his first store, Forbidden Books, in Fair Park in 1990. With Curiosities the Garage, he’s gained more than an expansion of his store; he’s also acquired a clubhouse with a “comfortable vibe” – a place where the community can gather and he can start dabbling in the creation of custom neon pieces with a vintage influence.

And the space has already found its audience. At the shop’s opening night earlier this month, local blues artist Aaron Burton played a set while guests snacked on grilled baloney and cheese sandwiches and beer from a cooler. The event prompted vintage motorcycle groups and car clubs to ask about renting the space, and Cohen hopes it will become a place for chill gatherings among gearheads.

“I’m trying to set up a songwriting series – blues, country, rockabilly – nothing too crazy,” he says. “Our intentions are to do a monthly music night, kind of an open mic thing, serve some cocktails.”

Still, Cohen is specific: This is not your typical antique shop. It’s got a tough and cool aesthetic, but not one related to gender. He prides himself on having something for every kind of shopper.

“You might expect someone that collected that kind of stuff is man-centric, but I have female collectors that are into the signs as well,” he says. “My intentions were not to create a space just for men – I’m not striving to be gender-specific. What I am doing is creating something visually pleasing and has a lot of interesting stuff. That’s always been my jam.”