The Halloween Horror Nights 2025 Tribute Store has not opened at Universal Studios Florida, despite August 26 being the announced opening date. Sahara Traders is still open though as the Revenge of the Mummy gift shop, with more props and signs added.

Tribute Store Not Open

Universal announced earlier this month that Sahara Traders and the Palace Theater Arcade would be home to this year’s Tribute Store, themed to the fictional Museum of Antiquities. The arcade closed last month, but Sahara Traders has remained open. Universal stated the Tribute Store would open on August 26.

Despite theming inside Sahara Traders and in front of the Palace Theater, the Tribute Store did not open on August 26. Team Members said it would not open to guests today, only for Team Member previews.

The propping outside Palace Theater includes advertisements for the Museum of Antiquities exhibits and fences covered in vines.

A “Temporary Museum Entrance” sign is over one of the theater’s posters.

Due to construction within the I. Stein Building, our Grand Hall and Lobby are closed until further notice.

New entrance located here at the Fine Art Building

Thank you for your continued support and your understanding!

The Museum of Antiquities is the setting of Revenge of the Mummy and has also been connected to HHN in the past. Sahara Traders was already themed to the museum but has received enhanced theming.

Sahara Traders Updates

Although the Tribute Store is not officially open, a “Tribute Store” sign has been added atop this display, which features several past HHN Easter eggs. A new sign designates this as the Stein Collection.

Stein Collection

Previously housed in the landmark I. Stein building for nearly a decade, the immense Stein Collection is an array of articles gathered and created over the years. The estate was recently evicted from the namesake building to revert the space back to its former use as a pedestrian pathway.

The Museum of Antiquities offered to house the collection during this transitionary period, ensuring that it could continue to educate the public. It is both a testament and a Tribute to the perseverance of the Museum of Antiquities, the Stein Estate, and the individuals who curate these collections.

Held within this collection are a growing number of items that border on the “cursed” relic category. Things with a history of causing great strife and chaos. After years of a somewhat cult following some of these items even disappeared or were stolen or sent to other antiquities dealers to be sold to the highest bidder. Re-gathering these items for the collection has been an undertaking but a well worth Tribute to the past.

The eviction from the Stein Building is a reference to the former home of the Tribute Store on the other side of Revenge of the Mummy.

The Stein collection includes depictions of the Curator from the Halloween Horror Nights 32 Tribute Store. The tentacles are also from that Tribute Store. A “Spooky Spells” sign is from the checkout area of the HHN 31 tribute store.

This display case includes old HHN Mold-A-Matic figures painted gray. These may be the Carved Stone Idols mentioned in a placard for Triptych of Tributes.

Triptych of Tributes
Exhibit: The Stein Collection

Little is known of this triptych other than a rumored dark past. It was recently found deep in the basement walls of the I. Stein and Co. building. Buried in the walls for over 50 years and possibly even beyond the construction of the original building. It’s location seems purposefully hidden and sinister. Documents found amongst the hidden stash also show inconsistent descriptions of the contents of the piece such as monsters, structures, and iconography that are either missing, or possibly replaced with other designs over time.

Within our collection, the Carved Stone Idols also seem to be represented in some form within the triptych. We believe perhaps they were used in conjunction with the triptych in some form of cult like seasonal ceremonial worship or celebration.

There is an almost Nostradamus-like predictive style to the different items within the triptych that, if it were to be believed, could be telling us of some impending doom by the hands of otherworldly beings, or, an over the top shopping experience.

The Triptych of Tributes is still covered by a sheet until the Tribute Store actually opens. It’s one of the pieces advertised with posters and banners.

Another piece yet to be revealed is the Pithos of Epimetheus from the Occult Artifacts of the World exhibit.

Pithos of Epimetheus
Exhibit: Occult Artifacts of the World

Discovered in the mountainous regions of Sparta, Greece, this artifact predates nearly everything housed in our museum at this time. Believed to be the mythical Pandora’s Box, of which contains the unlimited horrors of the universe (theoretically).

The story of the Pithos of Epimetheus begins with the brother titan of the named Pithos, Prometheus. After the theft of fire from Zeus and the subsequent eternal torture of Prometheus, Zeus then gifted this vessel to Pandora and Epimetheus with direct instructions not to open it. Knowing full well, however, that Pandora’s curiosity would get the better of her and the ultimate evils held within would inevitably be released.

The piece ultimately contains “Hope” as it has, in old mythology, already been opened. Some scholars believe however that it may have been lidded too quickly and still some evil remains. We here at the Museum of Antiquities do not subscribe to that form of rumor and plan to open it and research the remaining contents, if any.

The Living Mummy is a wrapped mummy inside a sarcophagus. This is part of the Wonders of Egypt exhibit, which is the permanent theme of Sahara Traders. It has an additional sign wrapping it into the Tribute Store’s story.

The Living Mummy
Exhibit: Wonders of Egypt

At the beginning, Carl Denham’s focus was the beast “Kong”, but as he found that endeavor to be fruitless (and costly) he reached out across the globe for other wonders of the world. Enter the O’Connell Expedition.

This mummy is a preserved “living” specimen of Imhotep from their encounters within the lost city of Hamunaptra. Held at bay by the strange Book of Dead which seems to hold a power undetermined by our finest minds and even the Bembridge Scholars. The book, however in our collection, is safe as long as it is not read aloud. We here at the Museum of Antiquities are not in the least bit worried that anyone or anything knowing even how to read it from it’s safe display.

With this mummy, and its illustrious sarcophagus, many smaller items were brought along and can be viewed in this surrounding exhibit. Please be careful as the mummy is brittle and could break apart as well as cause a rash when touched (allegedly).

The reference to King Kong is an homage to Kongfrontation, the original Universal Studios Florida attraction that Revenge of the Mummy replaced.

By the way, there is a space for the Book of the Dead on a display unit near the front of the store. But — uh-oh. The book appears to be missing.

The same display includes ancient jewelry and mysteriously broken blue scarabs.

There’s a sign for a funerary mask, but no funerary mask to be seen.

An old photo of mummification is next to a suspiciously scratched-up photo.

Closeups from the global discovery group display. Same stuff from Boris’ window.

Other displays include a shelf covered by a tarp and an ancient soldier skeleton holding a shield and spear. Eyes glow from beneath the skeleton’s helm.

There’s a new Museum of Antiquities directory and map. As the map outlines, the entrance area of Sahara Traders is the Wonders of Egypt exhibit. Beyond that is the marquee exhibit (Occult Artifacts of the World) and the Stein Collection. In the Palace Theater will be the Fine Art area and Grand Atrium. Apparently behind the building is the Hedge Maze and Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

This shelving unit is full of Museum of Antiquities brochures.

A dirty framed photo is ostensibly from the July 4th Donor Gala.

This area includes various Global Discovery Group props. The group was part of the lore of the now-closed Poseidon’s Fury in Universal Islands of Adventure. There are safari hats, umbrellas, and a box.

Items on the table include paraphernalia we also saw in Boris Shuster’s office.

Stay tuned for full coverage of the opening of the Halloween Horror Nights 2025 Tribute Store.

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