AUSTIN (KXAN) — After 38 years in business, Lucy in Disguise on South Congress Avenue is celebrating its last Halloween. It comes after the year-round costume shop announced in August that it would close by the end of 2022.
Store manager Jerry Durham said Sunday that it was good to see regulars return for the store’s last Halloween, but it was also difficult for team members.
“I think the emotional part was kind of working with our team one last time, knowing that this would be the last Halloween that we all work together. A lot of us have worked here a long time and we end up with a pretty low turnover rate,” Durham said.
He explained that this October was not as busy as previous years, as most people visited Lucy in Disguise in August and September to prepare for Halloween early.
Durham said they’re out of regular pirate costumes, so if you’re looking to pick up a last-minute Halloween outfit on Monday, you might have to get a little creative.
When we spoke to Durham in August, he said there were several factors that played a role in the business closing, including the pandemic and supply chain issues.
“We order from many different companies. We ship from a lot of different places,” Durham said in August. “It’s really been a challenge to keep the store as well stocked as people are used to it being.”
He also said that the Southern Congress was changing.
“The style of South Congress is nothing like what it was when we started the store,” Durham said in August. He has been with the company for nearly 13 years.
When asked where Austinites will go to pick up one-of-a-kind costumes in the future, Durham said, “I don’t know.”
“There aren’t many stores like ours in the world and I don’t see another store that can replace us, so I’m not sure where people will end up,” he said.
For now, Durham said Lucy in Disguise doesn’t have a set end date, but thinks it could happen in December. The team lets inventory determine when it’s time to close the store for good.