Los Angeles, California: LA Coroners Office Gift Shop

Some call it tasteless, but the LA County Coroner office has been running this tiny gift shop of unique souvenirs since 1993.

LA County Coroner's Office Gift Shop

This place has an extremely morbid sense of humor, so if you're easily offended this stop is not for you. Be mindful that when you enter the coroner's office through the visitor's entrance there is a chance you will encounter grieving families in the waiting area. To avoid the embarrassment of having to ask the receptionist where the gift shop is as these individuals are mourning, the shop is the first door on the left-hand side when you enter the building (directly across from the receptionist).

As the sign requests, be respectful to those families who are there on "business" and don't enter or exit the building laughing and making death jokes. Save that for the inside of the shop -- the woman who runs it is extremely nice and good-humored!

[Erica, 01/03/2013]

LA Coroners Office Gift Shop

Los Angeles, among other things, is known for the unique and the bizarre. This gift shop belongs in this city. All of the regular gift shop items can be found here (clothing, magnets, doormats, even a Christmas ornament that doubles as a sun catcher!). The selection and the gift shop itself is on the small side. However, if you are looking for that one-of-a-kind gift, look no further. Whatever you pick up there is sure to be a conversation starter. Or a conversation ender.

Also, don't leave there without checking out and sitting in the ultra-cool coffin couch that is on display!

[Mark Asaro, 06/30/2012]

LA Coroners Office Gift Shop

You definitely need a morbid twist to even stop in here. But I found everyone to be very nice inside and they had a good sense of humor about the whole thing. I even met the chief coroner, who took me and my friend into the back rooms for a disturbing-yet-awesome view into what goes on there (not for the weak stomach folk).

[Nick, 05/19/2011]

LA Coroner's Gift Shop

Never at a loss for dubious taste, the city of Los Angeles provides a gift shop whimsically called "Skeletons in the Closet" in a room off the main entrance of their staid, bland-looking government building on North Mission Road, just off the 101. Who says death has to be gloomy? While you're identifying the mortal remains of your dearly departed, why not pick up a souvenir or two?

They've got t-shirts, golf balls, and doormats emblazoned with a chalk-outlined corpse, dry cleaning bags that simulate body bags, even a Children's Corner (or is it Children's Coroner?). My only quibble is no mention of Quincy, TV's crusading L.A. medical examiner. I'd have gladly spent a few bucks for anything with Jack Klugman's face on it.

The gift shop may be tasteless but the proceeds do fund a program to educate youth about the dangers of drunk driving.

[Gunnar Johnson, 08/04/2009]

LA Coroners Office Gift Shop

I just took a group of 8 high school kids on a three-day "Roadside America" fieldtrip based on your site and the tips page. Our route was from San Francisco down 101 to Los Angeles, then up via 14 to route 5 through Tehachapi back to SF. We're planning to make our own website at which point I'll write you again so you can check out our pictures and stories, but I wanted to write you specifically about how disturbed I am about the Los Angeles Coroners Office Gift Shop. I don't think it should be promoted by this site.

The gift shop doesn't open until 2pm, so we waited in the lobby. What we didn't expect was to share the same lobby with people who had just identified the remains of their loved-ones. A woman fainted while her children were crying, all while my students and I sat there waiting to get into the gift shop. Suddenly the whole trip seemed highly insensitive and in poor taste. The Office should AT LEAST have a separate entrance if they are to continue offering this shady shopping experience.

[Karen Hellyer, 04/16/2000]