This is part of Poor Man’s Community Spotlight — a series where we sit down with the people who make the Treasure Valley what it is. Not polished bios. Not press releases. Just real people telling real stories, their way. If you’d like to be featured, fill out our storyteller’s questionnaire — it takes as long as you want it to, and nothing gets published without your say-so.
Previously: Joe Turmes — The Engineer Who Grabbed the Mic | Reid Pinther — The Mechanic Who Comes to You | Mike Hanselman — The Guy Who Was Told He Was Unemployable
Before All This
Before Goth With Glitter, life was a lot of figuring things out and trying to find where she fit. Heather Jacobson has always been a creative person — someone who loved darker aesthetics, unique fashion, and things that didn’t quite fit the mainstream. But for a long time, that love was something she mostly kept personal.
Like a lot of people, she worked different jobs, navigated hard seasons, and tried to build stability while still holding onto the parts of herself that loved art, creativity, and individuality. She also saw how many people in the community were looking for spaces where they could just be themselves without judgment.
Before the store existed, Goth With Glitter really started as an idea and a feeling — the belief that there should be a place where dark, spooky, glittery, expressive people could feel seen and welcomed. A place where individuality wasn’t just accepted but celebrated.
Life before all this was a mix of normal everyday responsibilities and a quiet dream in the background that someday she could build something that felt like home — not just for her, but for other people too.
The Tilt
It wasn’t a single lightning-bolt moment as much as it was a realization that kept getting louder and louder until she couldn’t ignore it anymore.
There was a point where Heather realized that if she didn’t try to build the thing she kept dreaming about, she would always wonder what might have happened if she had been brave enough to do it. She kept seeing how many people in the community were looking for a place where they could just exist as themselves — the weird, spooky, glittery, creative versions of themselves — and not feel out of place.
At some point the fear of failing became smaller than the fear of never trying.
That’s when everything tilted. She stopped thinking about it as an idea and started treating it like something real. Goth With Glitter stopped being a dream and started becoming a place — a physical space where people could come together, find things that spoke to them, and feel like they belonged.
Who She Had to Become
Back then, Heather was someone with a lot of ideas and a lot of heart, but also a lot of uncertainty. She loved the aesthetics, the creativity, and the sense of community that comes with alternative culture, but she wasn’t sure yet how to turn that into something real in the world. She cared deeply about people feeling seen and accepted, but she hadn’t fully stepped into the role of being the person who could build a place for that to happen.
Starting Goth With Glitter required her to grow into someone a little braver. She had to become someone willing to take risks, to make decisions even when she didn’t have all the answers, and to believe that the vision she had was worth pursuing. She had to learn how to be a business owner, a community builder, and sometimes even a cheerleader for the people who walk through the door looking for a place they feel comfortable.
In a lot of ways, she’s still the same person — someone who loves creativity, individuality, and the darker, sparkly side of life. But building Goth With Glitter helped her become more confident in that identity and more willing to stand up and say, “There’s room for us here.”
The Crossing
There were definitely moments where she almost didn’t. Starting something like this isn’t just exciting — it’s also terrifying. There were points where the reality of running a small business hit all at once: the financial risk, the long hours, the uncertainty of whether people would actually show up and support it.
She remembers moments of thinking, “What if this doesn’t work? What if I put everything into this and it still isn’t enough?” When you build something that’s this personal, it doesn’t just feel like a business risk — it feels like putting a piece of yourself out there and hoping the world understands it.
But every time she got close to that feeling of turning back, something would happen that reminded her why she started. Someone would walk into the store and light up because they finally found something that felt like them. Someone would tell her they felt comfortable there, or that it felt like a safe place to just exist as themselves.
Those moments made it impossible to quit. They reminded her that Goth With Glitter wasn’t just about selling things — it was about creating a space where people could belong. And once she realized that, turning back didn’t feel like an option anymore.
What She Lost
One thing she didn’t expect to lose was how simple life used to feel.
Before Goth With Glitter, when work was done, it was done. Starting and running a business changes that. It becomes part of your thoughts all the time — the responsibilities, the decisions, the worry about whether you’re doing enough, whether the doors will stay open, whether you’re taking care of the people who depend on the space you’ve created.
She also lost some of the comfort of staying small or staying quiet. When you build something visible, you have to step forward in ways you might not have before. You become the person people look to — for answers, for leadership, for reassurance — even on days when you’re still figuring things out yourself.
But the strange thing is, what she lost made room for something bigger. In place of that simplicity came a deeper sense of purpose and connection. Goth With Glitter became more than a store — it became a community, a creative outlet, and a place where people can show up exactly as they are.
And that’s something she wouldn’t trade.
What Found Her
The community.
She set out thinking she was building a store — a place where people could find clothing, art, and things that matched the darker, glittery aesthetic she’d always loved. What she wasn’t expecting was how many people would connect with the spirit of it.
People didn’t just come in to shop. They came in to talk, to share their stories, to show off their outfits, their art, their weird little treasures. Some people came in because they were having a hard day and just needed a place that felt welcoming. Others came in excited because they finally found something that felt like them.
What found her was this incredible group of humans who helped turn Goth With Glitter into something much bigger than a boutique. It became a gathering place, a creative hub, and a reminder that there are a lot of us out there looking for spaces where individuality is celebrated.
She wasn’t searching for that kind of community when she started — but it’s become the most meaningful part of all of this.
The Place
Because this is home.
Boise might not be the first place people think of when they picture alternative culture, but that’s part of what makes it so special. There are so many creative, expressive, interesting people here — artists, musicians, misfits, dreamers — who just needed a place where they could gather and feel seen.
Heather always believed communities like ours exist everywhere. Sometimes they just need a spark. Sometimes they just need a place.
Goth With Glitter didn’t appear out of nowhere. It grew out of the people who were already here — the friendships, the local artists, the musicians, the folks who walked through the door and said, “Oh… this place gets me.”
These streets, these people, this town — they’re part of the story. Boise gave Goth With Glitter its personality. The community shaped it into what it is today: not just a boutique, but a place where creativity, individuality, and a little bit of spooky sparkle can exist out in the open.
And honestly, watching that community find each other here has been one of the greatest parts of the whole journey.
What Others Miss
She sees a lot of heart here that people on the outside don’t always notice.
From the outside, a place like Boise can seem quiet or ordinary. But when you really look closer, there’s a huge amount of creativity and individuality living here. Artists, musicians, makers, writers, performers, and people building beautiful, strange little worlds of their own. Sometimes those people just haven’t had a space where they felt fully comfortable showing that side of themselves.
What she sees in this community is resilience and authenticity. People here are willing to support each other, lift each other up, and celebrate the things that make them different. She sees people who are brave enough to express themselves even when they stand out.
That’s what Goth With Glitter taps into. It’s not just about dark fashion or glitter or aesthetics — it’s about giving people a place where that creativity and individuality can exist openly, without apology.
The Face
One afternoon someone came into the shop and paused at the door for a moment, like they weren’t quite sure if they were allowed to be there. Heather sees that sometimes — that little hesitation.
They started slowly looking around, picking things up, asking small questions. After a while they told Heather they’d never really had a place where they felt comfortable exploring the things they liked — darker aesthetics, unusual pieces, the things that didn’t always fit into the expectations of other stores.
What stayed with her was the moment their whole energy changed.
They started smiling. They began showing her the things they loved, talking about their style, the music they listen to, the pieces that made them light up. You could see the shift happen right in front of you — that moment when someone realizes they don’t have to shrink themselves in a space anymore.
Moments like that stay with Heather.
They remind her that Goth With Glitter isn’t just a place where people come to buy things. Sometimes it’s the first place someone feels safe enough to be fully themselves.
And when you see that happen — when someone walks in unsure and leaves feeling like they belong — you realize you’re not just running a shop.
You’re holding space for people to finally feel seen.
The Giving
There was a moment early on when someone came into the shop and fell completely in love with a piece — the kind of moment where you can see it on their face immediately. They kept picking it up, putting it down, walking away from it and coming back again. Eventually they told her they really wanted it but just couldn’t afford it right then.
As a business owner you’re always thinking about numbers and keeping the lights on. But in that moment it didn’t feel like a business decision. It felt human. She remembers thinking that sometimes the right thing to do isn’t the thing that shows up on a spreadsheet.
So she just told them to take it.
The look on their face is something she’ll never forget. It wasn’t just about the item — it was about being seen and having someone show them a little kindness without expecting anything back.
Moments like that remind her that Goth With Glitter isn’t just a place where transactions happen. It’s a place where small acts of generosity and connection matter, and sometimes those moments end up meaning more than any sale ever could.
The Cause
She’s always had a soft spot for people who feel a little outside the lines — the creatives, the misfits, the ones who have been told they’re “too different” or “too much.” Those are the people who have always made the world more interesting to her.
Over time, she realized that a lot of the people who walk through the doors of Goth With Glitter carry stories like that. Artists who didn’t have a place to show their work. People who never felt like they fit into traditional spaces. Folks who just wanted somewhere they could be themselves without feeling judged.
They got her heart because they showed up exactly as they are. And when you see how powerful it is for someone to feel accepted and celebrated for the first time, it changes you. You start realizing how important spaces like this can be.
So in many ways, the cause that has her heart is simply creating and protecting spaces where people can belong — especially the ones who have spent a long time feeling like they didn’t.
More Than She Had
There have definitely been moments where she gave more than was comfortable — time, energy, resources — because when you care deeply about something, the line between what’s “enough” and what’s “too much” gets blurry.
Running a small business, especially one that’s built around community, means there are times you pour everything you have into it. Long days, late nights, reinvesting money back into the store, supporting local artists, hosting events, helping people who needed a little extra kindness. There were times she probably stretched herself thinner than she should have.
What happened, though, was something she didn’t fully expect. The community started giving back in ways that weren’t always about money. People showed up. They brought their friends. They shared the store with others, supported the artists inside, and helped build the atmosphere that makes Goth With Glitter what it is.
So even in the moments where it felt like she was giving more than she had, it eventually came back around in a different form — loyalty, friendships, and a sense that they were building something meaningful together.
The Fire That Keeps You Warm
The thing she protects the most is the feeling of the space — that sense that anyone who walks through the door can be themselves without being judged.
Goth With Glitter was never meant to be just another store. From the beginning, it was meant to be a place where individuality is celebrated — whether someone is dressed head-to-toe in black lace, covered in glitter, or just quietly exploring who they are. She’s very protective of that atmosphere because once a space loses that authenticity, it’s really hard to get it back.
There are definitely moments in business where compromising might make things easier or more profitable. But if it means losing the heart of what the space is supposed to be, it’s not worth it to her.
What she protects is the idea that people should be able to walk into Goth With Glitter and feel like they belong there exactly as they are. That feeling is the foundation of everything they’ve built, and it’s something she’ll always choose to defend — even if it costs her sometimes.
What Keeps Her Going
When the world gets heavy, it’s usually the people who remind her why she started.
There are days running a small business where the stress piles up — bills, slow days, unexpected problems — and it can feel overwhelming. But then someone walks in excited to show her something they made, or tells her they brought a friend because they wanted them to see the shop, or shares that Goth With Glitter is one of the few places they feel comfortable just being themselves.
Those moments reset everything.
And when she’s poured out everything she has, it’s usually the quiet moments that fill her back up. Spending time with her husband, being at home, sitting in her chair and just letting the day settle. Her husband has been her biggest support through all of this, and just having someone who understands the ups and downs makes a huge difference.
And creativity itself refills her too. Rearranging the shop, bringing in new pieces, talking with artists, seeing new ideas come to life — that spark of creativity reminds her why she started Goth With Glitter in the first place.
The Secret
Despite running a store that’s so visually bold and expressive, Heather is actually a pretty introspective person.
People often see Goth With Glitter and assume she’s always “on” — surrounded by energy, events, music, and creativity. And while she loves that world, she also really values quiet moments. She spends a lot of time thinking, observing, and reflecting on the people and stories that pass through the shop.
And while people see the glitter and the spooky aesthetic on the surface, underneath it’s really built from a lot of thought, care, and heart.
The question she’s been waiting years for someone to ask is simply: “Why does this matter so much to you?”
Because the heart of Goth With Glitter has always been about people, creativity, and giving individuality a place to exist out in the open.
If It All Ended Tomorrow
She’d want people to remember how it felt to walk through the door.
Not just the things on the shelves or the glitter and the dark aesthetic, but the feeling that it was a place where you could show up exactly as you are and be welcomed. A place where creativity was encouraged, where weird was celebrated, and where people didn’t have to explain themselves.
She’d hope people remember that Goth With Glitter was more than a shop — it was a little pocket of community. A place where artists could share their work, where conversations happened between strangers who suddenly realized they had something in common, and where individuality wasn’t just tolerated, it was embraced.
If people remember that there was once a small space where they felt seen, inspired, or a little more confident in being themselves, then she’d feel like it mattered.
And that would be enough.
Find Goth With Glitter
Goth With Glitter is a lifestyle boutique at 6449 W Fairview Ave in Boise, showcasing gothic, horror, spooky, and eclectic merchandise. Band merch, goth decor, witchy goods, dark fashion, and a Safe Space sign in the window that means exactly what it says.
Open Monday and Thursday 11–6, Friday and Saturday 11–7.
Find them at www.gothwithglitter.com and @goth_with_glitter on all socials.
EXTERNAL LINKS
Goth With Glitter website:http://www.gothwithglitter.com
Facebook: Goth With Glitter (3K followers)
Instagram: @goth_with_glitterTikTok: @gothwithglitter
Poor Man’s Community Spotlight is an ongoing series featuring the people who make the Treasure Valley what it is. Business owners, organizers, volunteers, characters — the people you pass on the street who have a story worth hearing.
Want to be featured? Know someone who should be? Fill out the questionnaire. Take as long as you want. Nothing gets published without your permission.
Previously in this series: Joe Turmes — The Engineer Who Grabbed the Mic | Reid Pinther — The Mechanic Who Comes to You |