At Ghost of Athens, Dave Ranney and Robby Bailey believe a mix of self-care and community is just the comfort people need, and they work to create a safe and quiet third space.
Ghost’s community originally began in Clayton, Georgia, but has since relocated to Athens as of June 2025. Ranney feels as if Ghost fits right into Athens.
“It being a funky gift shop,” Ranney said. “I think Athens has a history of having shops like that.”
Ranney began Ghost after spending years as a creative director in advertising. In 2020, Ranney decided he was done with corporate America and moved onto opening his own business, inspired by his lineage of retailers.
“It all really stems from the fact that I have really bad anxiety naturally, so everything in the shop is something that is intended to help with that,” Ranney said.
Ghost Apothecary carries a wide berth of merchandise — from dinner party supplies to THC products, there truly is something for everyone at the store. The goal of the merchandise is to help people find what brings mental peace and ease into their own lives. For Robby Bailey, co-owner of Ghost, this mental peace is found through reading.
Bailey worked a corporate job from home before deciding to join Ghost as a co-owner a year after its opening with the goal of expanding the book selection
“The books are kind of like a love letter to my English teachers, my creative writing professors and just like readers in general,” Bailey said. “I think reading is self care, and I think reading is healing.”
Ranney and Bailey prioritize creating a welcoming space above all else. Self care looks different to everyone, and Ghost reflects that variety through the care put into each individual customer. It is individuals that make up a community, and Ranney and Bailey recognize that.
in Athens, Georgia on Oct. 2, 2025. Ranney and Bailey have been
co-owners of Ghost since 2023. “I always want to impress him, and
I think he does the same,” Ranney said. (Photo/Addison Simmons)
“Our shop kind of became this idea of self care, and community care is self-care,” Bailey said. “Taking care of yourself is taking care of your community.”
Ghost is already connected to the community of Athens by monthly book clubs, selling books written by local authors and hosting psychic readings. In the future, Ranney and Bailey plan to increase this community engagement, but the main focus is to make Ghost somewhere that eases peoples’ anxiety.
“When you walk into this space, our goal is that you’re recognized and seen,” Bailey said.
many sold at Ghost. “We have a true self-care section, all kinds of workbooks and notebooks
and tools to help you work through those difficult things in life,” Ranney said. (Photo/Addison Simmons)
Addison Simmons is a journalism major in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
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