about us
The Trickster’s Apothecary is a queer owned family business based in Corvallis, Oregon. Our roots are laid in history, folklore, folk art, and folk customs: the family traditions that can get lost to time if they aren’t cherished. The owners, Robin and Loki, have fond memories of bonding with family and community members over cultural stories and food that brought even the most distant and different people together.
This includes tales of Tricksters, in both folklore and mythology. These whimsical, wily figures are mischievous joy-bringers, who help the main characters out of trouble. They often don’t bring their compatriots exactly what they want, but they also give them what they truly need. The Trickster’s Apothecary’s goal is to offer something that will feed the soul of any person who walks in, whether that is traditional apothecary goods like herbs, or something a little more off the beaten path.
In our shop, we share our love for the beauty found in the littlest and simplest of treasures. We offer a wide selection of vintage items from across the world; it’s our hope that no matter where your roots lie, you’ll find something that will fill your heart with nostalgic joy. You’ll also find treasures handmade by the owners, including: jewelry, candles, art, hand-carved statuary, incense made in our unique process, and much more. Our relatives also contribute to our family business, offering handmade embroidery, crochet, and carpentry.
Alongside vintage and handmade goods, we offer a wide array of spiritual supplies and services. It is our goal that, no matter your spiritual path, you’ll be able to find something in our shop that will speak to your heart and soul. This includes crystals, saint statues, tarot, rosaries, deity statues from many traditions, candles, incense, and more. If you drop by and can’t find what you’re looking for, ask the owners for help! We’ll either make a recommendation for something that fits your needs, help you source what you need, or craft it for you ourselves.
We aim to nourish not only your spirit, but also your stomach, with food that brings joy. The other half of our business, described below, is our home bakery, where we share family recipes made with the love of generations.
Our home bakery is named after two of the owner’s grandparents: Robin’s Sicilian Nonnu, or grandfather, and Loki’s Filipina Lola, or grandmother. Every treat we bake is crafted with their enduring love for well-made food—the kind that brings a smile to the face, no matter how simple or complex the dish. Everything we sell must pass the “Nonnu and Lola Check”: if they wouldn’t be proud to serve it, we will never serve it either.
Nonnu’s Story:
Robin’s Nonnu was born in Sicily, an island off the Southern tip of Italy, before he immigrated to America. When he first arrived, he worked in an Italian bakery in Brooklyn, perfecting the recipes for treats he grew up with. Robin was raised enjoying home-baked goods so delicious that purchased versions could never compare. He was brought into the kitchen to learn baking at a young age, practicing family recipes under the watchful eye of his Nonnu and relatives who had learned from him; he is now our primary baker. Emory offers baked goods made from his Nonnu’s recipes, alongside many additional Italian and Sicilian goods that are hard to find in the PNW.
Lola’s Story:
Loki’s Lola originally owned a restaurant and grocery store near Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Despite the stiff competition in the capital city, her business thrived until she made the choice to move to America to be with her children. Her joyful love of life came out in many ways, including an appreciation for simple, well-made food shared with loved ones. As she was a cook rather than a baker, we cannot currently offer food made with her recipes. Instead, we offer her favorite baked goods, put through a rigorous taste-test to ensure their perfection.
These relatives are honored in the name of our business, but they are far from the only family members to contribute. The American side of Robin’s family lends recipes for down-home, Americana favorites. The Japanese goods we offer are courtesy of Loki’s Japanese relatives. Our repertoire of offerings is ever expanding and seasonal, so stop by to see what treats are available today!
Nonnu and Lola’s features a rotating menu that will continue growing with time. Every day, we post our menu on our Instagram account (@nonnuandlolas) so you’ll know exactly what’s on offer before you come in. If you missed the treat you wanted, have no fear! Goods are baked fresh daily here, but any food left from the day before is available for purchase the next day at a discount.
Stop by and dive in because we promise: You Can Taste the Love of Family!
Meet the Owners
Robin (he/they): Robin is an Italian-American folk witch who has been practicing for 10 years, reading runes and tarot for 8, and reading professionally for 1 year. They use their background in history and gender studies to delve into existing folk magic traditions and rework them through a queer, nonbinary lens. He draws particularly on the Italian folk magic traditions he caught glimpses of as a child, reimagining them in a queer, pagan light. He also studies queer cultural traditions through the ages to uncover their latent potential for folk magic. Their practice is spirit-led, pagan, and polytheistic, working closely with spirits and deities of the Greco-Roman and Norse cosmologies. They hope to be able to share the knowledge they’ve uncovered with curious minds and open hearts.
Loki (he/him): Loki is a queer Asian Pacific Islander folk witch whose practice centers on animism and helping to navigate the very real intersection between magic and how modern science continues to support knowledge that is centuries old and spirit led. His background in science, education and illustration gives him the ability to help people connect to spirits of nature through understanding and fostering relationships. He works closely with plant and nature spirits, the land and the fey of Celtic and Filipino traditions. His practice is spirit-led, pagan and polytheistic, with a focus on Greek, Egyptian and Celtic cosmologies. He hopes to be able to share the joint knowledge he has connected with his husband, Robin, to anyone with open hearts and minds.
