Are you looking for a local Halloween store that isn’t operating out of a vacant retail building that will mysteriously become a costume shop for six weeks and then disappear into the night? Columbus, we have another option.
Costume Holiday House, a year-round local costume shop that has been helping Columbus with their costumes since 1959. They recently moved to 909 King Ave, so we had to go take a look and they have a lot to look at.
And when I say a lot, I mean costumes, wigs, hats, props, accessories, makeup, special effects supplies, and rentals. They carry costumes for kids and adults, including plus sizes, so you aren’t stuck trying to squeeze yourself into whatever random size happens to be left on the rack. They also have theatrical costumes and rentals for productions.
One thing I really appreciate about Costume Holiday House is that this isn’t a store that only exists because October showed up on the calendar.
They also offer costume rentals, including theatrical rentals, so if you are working on a production or just don’t want to buy an entire costume you’ll probably wear once, you have another option.
And while we were there, I spotted some really cool Renaissance Faire costumes available for rent. So if you’ve been thinking about going to the Ren Faire but don’t exactly have a closet full of medieval clothing sitting around, this is worth checking out.
The staff are another big part of the experience. Costume Holiday House emphasizes knowledgeable staff, and that lines up with the customer experiences we’ve seen as well. We saw customers asking for help with makeup, costumes, rentals, and putting together the finishing touches on an outfit and the staff had the perfect solutions.
What to Know Before You Go
First: the location is a little weird.
Costume Holiday House is at 909 King Ave., near SR-315 and Olentangy River Road, between Cabinetworks and Natalie’s Pizza. It isn’t exactly screaming “HEY, COSTUME STORE!” from the street, and it can be easy to miss. I would look it up on a map before going and assuming your GPS has led you into a parking lot for no reason.
Second: if you’re thinking about colored or decorative contacts for your costume, Ohio has rules about those. Cosmetic and zero-power contact lenses still require a valid prescription in Ohio and they aren’t something you can legally just pick up over the counter. So, yes, cat eyes are fun, eye injuries are decidedly less fun.
Final Thoughts
I love having a place like this in Columbus. There is something nice about being able to actually walk into a store, look at things in person, talk to someone who knows what they’re doing, and build a costume rather than ordering seven things online and hoping they all arrive before the party
So this Halloween, before you automatically head toward the giant seasonal costume store, consider supporting a local business instead. Costume Holiday House has been part of the Columbus costume scene for decades, and that’s worth keeping around.
Go forth. Get spooky. Get theatrical. Become a Renaissance Faire peasant. Whatever your Halloween plans require.
Just don’t forget where you parked.
What to Know Before You Go
Costume Holiday House
909 King Ave., Columbus, OH 43212
614-451-0772
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