Clark County business working to overcome pushback

WINCHESTER, Ky. — A Winchester business owner said she and visitors of her metaphysical shop are experiencing harsh backlash and ridicule.

Shannon Tipton is welcoming back regulars and new faces to her store, the Crystal Coven Mystic Cottage. In three months, her business and passion project will be a year old, and she said she created the space to form a community for other individuals who share similar interests. 

However, she has recently faced backlash and harassing comments online about her store’s contents.

“I feel that all the folks who want to come into my shop should be allowed to come into my shop without feeling like that when they leave, they may be ridiculed,” Tipton said. 

The pushback against the store came after Winchester’s tourism commission promoted an event hosted by the mystic-themed store, a promotion some viewed as an endorsement of spirituality or even witchcraft. 

“It represented, or it was spoken, that they saw me as a religion, and I’m not a religion,” she said. “I am a business; this is a metaphysical shop.”

“I think it’s just a misunderstanding of my verbiage or what they believe my business is about.”

Tipton has a background as a therapist and is owner of New Leaf Recovery and Wellness, an addiction recovery and mental health center. 

She said even before this situation, she had fewer concerns about something like this occurring at this store. The shop has dozens of crystals, an apothecary and offers raki with items from local taxidermists, jewelry-makers and other small businesses also on her shelves.

Some supporters joined her, along with those against the pushback, to share their thoughts at Thursday’s fiscal court meeting.

Tipton said she’s hopeful customers will continue to return with the same enthusiasm and love for the shop as they did before. Still waiting for answers about how it will be resolved, she’s working with a lawyer to handle any further harassing claims or actions against the business and patrons.