Die With Your Boots On is an independent gothic and alternative clothing shop at 9 Church Street in downtown Salem, Massachusetts. Founded in 2018 by Amber Newberry, the store specialises in goth, punk, heavy metal and other alternative styles, selling clothing, boots, jewellery, patches, bags and accessories alongside work from local artists and small independent brands. The family-owned business is operated by Newberry and Nick Izzo.
The shop originally opened as a much smaller boutique at Pickering Wharf. Its establishment followed the disappearance of several earlier alternative clothing shops in Salem, including Fool’s Mansion on Essex Street, leaving relatively few businesses in the city devoted specifically to goth and other alternative subcultures. Die With Your Boots On gradually expanded and moved to its considerably larger Church Street location by 2022. The former Pickering Wharf premises later became The Ossuary, a sister boutique specialising in more elaborate gothic clothing, corsetry and accessories.
The Church Street store has a dark but colourful interior reflecting a broad range of alternative styles. Large band flags for Iron Maiden, Metallica and Motörhead hang from the ceiling, while the clothing selection includes shirts from bands such as Bathory, Iron Maiden, Dio, Behemoth and Metallica. Platform boots, harnesses, fishnet clothing, jewellery and other accessories fill out the rest of the shop, with goth, punk, metal, horror and vintage influences represented throughout. Size inclusivity has been an important part of the business, with many clothing ranges available in a wider selection of sizes than is typical for specialist boutiques. Local designers and small-scale manufacturers are stocked alongside established alternative brands.
The larger premises also contain a small stage and regularly host events. Drag performances, fashion events and activities connected with Salem Horror Fest have taken place inside the store, including film screenings during the festival. Die With Your Boots On is located on the exterior of Witch City Mall immediately beside Residency Records, placing two businesses strongly associated with alternative music and culture next to one another in central Salem.
ADDRESS:
9 Church St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
Back to Salem.