The boutique for all your strange and bizarre shopping needs

Written by Caeley Jones. Photo courtesy of Starland Strange & Bazaar

Tucked away in the Starland District stands a store that is unmistakably meant for the area: Starland Strange & Bazaar. With its millennial pink facade, colorfully designed entrance and affinity for Dolly Parton, it fits in perfectly with its neighbors, Starland Yard and Starlandia. But what causes the hordes of SCAD students and the combination of Gen Z and millennials to keep coming back to this odd and eccentric store?

Starland Strange opened New Year’s Day in 2020 and has since become a landmark for the area for tourists and locals alike. Starland Strange is a store with an eclectic mix of goods that has something for everyone. Trendy bumper stickers? Check. Pins for that new jean jacket? Check. It also has a wide variety of clothing that ensures its place as a bonafide boutique and makes it hard to leave empty-handed. The shopping experience is unlike any other because while you’re browsing for your new favorite top, you can also enjoy a delicious scoop (or two) of ice cream.

Ice cream cones inside Strange and Bizarre — *Photo courtesy of Katelyn Myrick*

Starland Strange doubles as an ice cream shop that has flavors like Deer Tracks, Banana Pudding and Birthday Cake. They stand out with their flavorful cones as well. Enjoy Mint Chocolate Chip in a Matcha cone or Cookies in Cream with Red Velvet. The shop offers a wide variety of flavors and combinations that anyone can enjoy. They also create their own sprinkles under Starland Sprinkle Co.

While boutique and ice cream shops might be enough for some, it doesn’t end there for Starland Strange. The store also houses Dreamhouse Studios and hosts an Airbnb event space. Dreamhouse Studios is an artist workspace that was founded by four female creatives, their goal being to add to Savannah’s creative community and foster a space that encourages collaboration and of course, dreaming.

Interior of Strange and Bizarre — *Photo courtesy of* *Katelyn Myrick*

Both Starland Strange & Bizaar and Dreamhouse Studios’ goals center on belonging to a community of your choice. Whether it’s finding a creative space that supports independent women or enjoying a shopping experience where your favorite artists play on the radio in the background, these spaces are meant for you to feel comfortable. The space is open, and the staff is as sweet as the ice cream they serve.

Starland Strange seems to be a haven for SCAD students and Gen Z specifically, and it’s easy to see why. It could be the store’s dedication to cowboy chic, the nostalgic playlist or the fashion that is all about self-expression. I believe it’s mostly because of the store’s atmosphere. Starland Strange & Bizaar doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you.

So next time you’re in the Starland District grab a scoop, enjoy the atmosphere, and think to yourself, what would Dolly do?