Well, it’s a big community, you know? And the community is what’s most important to me in general when it comes to any of this.
Folklore, a local business owned and operated by Shaley Renee, is one of the many unique establishments in the downtown area of Panama City. Located on Beck Ave, this metaphysical store offers a range of products from jewelry, tea, candles, and crystals. Additionally, Shaley herself offers a wealth of information about religions and the tools needed to practice them and is happy to assist her customers in finding the perfect products for their needs.
In addition to being an excellent resource for the curious and fashionable, the store itself is an experience to walk through, adorned extensively from room to room with greenery, decor, and products to add to the look and feel of the store.
Overall, Folklore is a local gem that’s been made possible thanks to Shaley’s hard work and dedication to her business. That being said, Shayley’s contribution to the community extends beyond the basics related to running Folklore, allowing her business to act as one of the few accessible and easy to work with local venues for community events and DIY music shows.
Beyond the Metaphysical
For me, it’s more about letting people have access to the truth of where religion started, where it came from, and then whatever cultural tools they need.
But as far as what I actually do… everything. Tea, jewelry, candles… everything.
When you walk into Folklore for the first time, you will likely be greeted by Shayley at the front desk, or perhaps one of her adorable, whiskered employees, just be careful not to step on one of their tails as you make your way through the beautiful shop.
The front rooms carry a majority of the jewelry and crystals Folklore has to offer, while the rest of the store has various other options ranging from specialized teas, candles, herbs, incense, soaps, and a host of other hand-made items from Shaley herself or other local vendors.
The range Shaley carries in her store is impressive, even for a seasoned metaphysical store goer. Plus, the furry employees will sometimes allow you to give them a scratch or two, provided you pass the vibe check.
a space comes alive
In addition to the store front, Folklore commonly hosts community events and DIY style music events featuring local musicians. This is in part because Shaley is also a local music fan herself. She self-reports frequenting places like Moseys Downtown and Thistle and Thorne to catch some of our local musicians in their element when she isn’t busy at Folklore.
Mosey’s and Thistle are two pretty good places, but it’s not like they’re the only places. We all just kind of migrate to whoever’s doing the show, you know, but those are usually going to be the top two places around here as far as like the genres that our communities like the best, I would say.
It was therefore pretty natural for Shaley to find herself supporting the community by allowing the spacious back porch at Folklore to be act as a gathering area and event space for musicians, as well as other communities in our local area who are in need of such a space. Additionally, she credits herself with being able to offer accessibility to would be users of the space. Where other venues might expect a fee for using the space, Shaley is happy to donate her resources for the greater good of the community.
The reason I brought people here is because I don’t want people to have to spend a bunch of money like they do for everything else that is a communal gathering, you know?
Shaley has made herself a valuable asset to musicians here in Panama City, where it can sometimes be difficult to find a venue, especially if your preferred style of music doesn’t fit neatly into the singer-songwriter, country, or cover-artist genres that tend to dominate our local scene. A whole host of genres have graced Folklore’s back porch with their sounds, from EDM artists, metal bands, soloists of all varieties, dad-rock bands, and everything in between. No matter who you are or what you like, there is a space for you at Folklore because of Shaley.
A Business with a Broader Vision
Shaley’s positive impact in the community goes beyond just being an asset to musicians of all kinds. Folklore hosts a range of other events in addition to DIY concerts throughout the year.
I’ve done art socials and I’ve done music events. Like reading events… I have done other events like festivals, big festivals, which were kind of like craft fairs… like a gathering of like minded people… Spiritual people, I suppose
To further her goal of being an accessible space, Shaley has decided to continue taking on events and possibly more frequently in the future, depending on her availability. Be sure to check out Folklore in person on Beck Avenue or on social media to be in the know on what events are upcoming or simply to check out this amazing local business that is giving back to the community it belongs to
Ellen Bonvenuto
Student Writer - Spring 2026
My name is Ellen, and I’ve been a student at GCSC while I pursue a degree in Digital Media Production. My main interest is music, and I spend most of my free time either writing new music, rehearsing with my band, or attending events to network with other local musicians. I also have a family at home that I dedicate time to as well, with four kids, a wife, two dogs, three cats, and more guitars than I would care to openly admit to. They’re the reason why I do everything else I do. Between my love for music and my love for my family, you can understand who I am and what motivates me to do what I do. That pretty much sums me up.
