Danielle Gilbert/ The Collegian

The Clerk

As a sweaty, red-faced man sporting a fanny pack entered the store, two elderly women stood at the register with toys in hand.

“You better clear out my underwear drawer before I die, I don’t want my sister finding this,” announced one of the women.

Next in line was a gentleman dressed in all white who appeared to have just clocked out of work. However, all he had was a straight face despite jokes from “Thelma and Louise” and a hand full of DVDs.

Although no photography was allowed and Suzie’s Adult Superstore staff was unavailable for comment, the conversations and body language of the customers within the walls of the adult superstore said it all.

Danielle Gilbert/ The Collegian

The Herbalist

Nestled in between Cuca’s Mexican restaurant and Paris café in Chinatown lies the Takshing Herb Center. The combination of dried fruits, roots and insects may sound unappetizing, however, the contents of this historic building is anything but bland.

Owner Sen C. Hopper has called 909 F Street home for more than 20 years.

“I’ve been open longer than Welty’s been president,” Hopper said, followed by a contagious laugh.

The herb house features an assortment of teas and remedies bought wholesale from China and San Francisco. These products help detoxify the body as well as provide relaxation and extract impurities.

According to Hopper, a common solution for clearing skin is cooking dried beetles above 100 degrees for more than 10 minutes.

The shop is flavored with a freewheeling atmosphere.

Virginia native, Margaret Bowen, calls Chinatown home as well.

“I’ve lived in Chinatown for eight years and have eaten so many egg rolls that I’ve turned Chinese, huh?” Bowen said to Hopper at full volume.

As the owner locked up shop, a woman by the name of Shadow entered, listing her current needs for all to hear. What were those needs? “A ride to Oakland, food and d***.”

John Esquivel/ The Collegian

The Goth Psychic

Rudy Alderette, or “Rudy The Goth Psychic” as he is known to many people, has been a prominent Tarot card reader in the Central Valley for years. He’s been known to practice at Brass Unicorn in the Tower District and also out of his home.

While many people get into card reading as an adult, The Goth Psychic was born into it.

“As a baby, I would sit on my grandmother’s lap as she would read people’s cards after Sunday mass,”Alderette said.

When he was 18-years-old, he discovered Brass Unicorn, a shop that offers Tarot cards, healing crystals and other products for alternative practices. He has since become a known figure in the local psychic community.

A Tarot card reading can help offer advice in one’s life such as: what relationships are working verses those which aren’t, what doors are going to open and which shall remain closed.

The Goth Psychic begins readings by asking one to divide the stack of cards and select 15 using your “unconscious” hand (opposite from your writing hand.) Various pictures expose information with the flip of each card: The Hanged Man, The High Priestess, Wheel Of Fortune, etc. He explains how each card is linked together and how they can play out in one’s life.

While Alderette appreciates the local support, he has come across some who only want to make money. He has seen people give thousands of dollars to “psychics” who give wrong information just to make money. The Goth Psychic hopes he can give the profession a good name by offering quality readings.