Root Seller Gallery

This was a Great store! Where did it go? They had an awsome Herb selection as well as whole tea leaves. Always got my Sage here. They had a big variety of books on astrology and pretty crystals

Love this place, ever since they first started to 7^th ave and moved to 16^th street and Indian School, bought everything here from books, to porn, and calendars. They used to have a huge antique section here, and drag Queen boutique, but they had to scale back and moved basically to another section of the strip mall. l have yet to see their new place but I expect a scaled back version minus the antiques. Got an Elizabeth Taylor book for my friend who is a fan for only $ 20.00 It’s really the only Gay Bookstore in town as well as a place to get all your sweet scents. This place has really given me a chance to educate myself on gay culture and history.

As my mom went to her routine seek-​n-​find at the Goodwill off of 16^th street & Indian School and I saw a sign that read Apotecary and I thought «OH! TEA!!» and ventured in that direction!
When I arrived at the door, I was met by several magzine stands such as Echo magazine — if you are familar with the GBLT community of Phoenix, then you’ll TOTALLY know what I’m talking about. I didn’t think much of it and then I entered the clean and well maintained store. I was met by a rather decent sized book case displaying many memoirs and biographies: Ellen DeGeneris, Rock Hudson, Bette Midler, Cher, May West as well as massage therapy how-​to books… waaaaaaaiiiit a minute… something’s amiss…
I thought to myself as I looked about and saw nearly a dozen busts of a man’s «front». Basically from the neck down to… there. Yeah — THERE. A dozen one eyed snakes staring me in the face… mocking me… scaring me! I wanted to run, but I couldn’t resist so onward I trekked.
I saw what at first sight looks like a typical gift shop. Full of candleholders, Native inspired ceramic pottery, books galore, bumber stickers, magazines and other home décor. But at second glance I realize that those candleholers were either phallic in shape or were rainbow colored, the ceramic pottery was actually quite nice and original, the books were about… –ahem– love? lol. and the books were about a plethera of things: gay sex, the occult, alternative medicine and overviews of different religions, the magazines needed a proof of ID to be purchaced and hot guys smothered in lube (atleast I HOPE it was) were splashed on it’s covers and the bumber stickers were of rainbows, triangles and cute sayings like «I heart cowbois» u know — the usual. What really tripped me out was that they even had a rainbow dream catcher! I swear if I had the money I would have TOTALLY bought it!
I came upon the oils and they all smelled so lovely! As did the incense. I wish I could have gotten a stick or two! The Moonlit Goddess smelled fantastic! I came upon the loose leaf teas and I was a little disappointed. What I was hoping to be splendid teas from around the world (or atleast from around the country) were nothing but different types of herbs. Frankensece, myrr, Dragon’s blood, Iris and lavender.
I left the store loose leaf teas OUT of hand. Over all, I LOOOOVED their goods. I plan on bringing a few of my friends the next time I visit.
But what bothered me the most was the lack of friendliness from their lone store clerk. He seemed more interested in lining a couple of dozen bottles up perfectly in two neat rows than to look up at me and smile. I even considered buying a small vile of lavender. I looked at him and nodded toward the shelves of jars and gave a slight smile. He glanced up at me and went back to his bottles without so much as a recipricated smile or nod. I made a face and bolted out the door. You can have all the cutest gaypride knick-​knacks in the world, but if you can’t crack a SMILE — then you can’t part me from my money!
Love their stuff hate their staff. But I still think it’s worth a paruse atleast once. :) For nothing but the sight of those busts alone!