This Halloween marks the last for a Phoenix costume store

PHOENIX — Whether you were looking to dress up as Superman, a witch or Michael Myers, Easley’s Fun Shop near downtown Phoenix has been the go-to place for many looking for costumes.

But after more than seven decades, it’s closing its doors at the end of this year.

Debbie Easley, president and owner, said her grandfather opened the store 72 years ago. She said for years, this has been the store for people to shop for high-quality costumes.

“My customers always know that they can count on me to provide clean rentals and good-quality costumes to buy,” she said. “They know our quality.”

Easley said the store has never competed for customers with Party City and pop-up stores like Spirit Halloween.

“We all have our clientele and our quality, and there’s a nitch for all of us like that,” she said. “It’s when somebody like Amazon comes in and takes quality to a place that it should never ever go.”

She said Amazon and other websites like it have made it easy for people to shop online. She said some of the costumes sold online appear to be good quality, but “you’re actually buying a picture.”

And that, she said, has affected her business and led to her decision to close the store.

For now, the plan is to close the store on Fifth Avenue and McDowell Road at the end of December. However, the store’s website will continue operating. Easley said it’s possible she could open a 30-day pop-up store during Halloween, but nothing has been finalized.

Samantha Chavez of Phoenix was recently there shopping for a Tonya Harding costume.

“I’m actually looking to beat everyone in a costumes competition at work, so maybe this is the place to get something,” she said.

Chavez said this was her first time shopping at Easley’s Fun Shop and was impressed with the store’s selection of costumes.

“I’ve been to other costume stores, and I’ve never really found anything that I like,” she said, adding that she had “a fangirl moment” when she saw the wide selection the store has of V for Vendetta costumes.

For Chris Garcia of Tempe, Easley’s Fun Shop has been the go-to place for Halloween costumes for years. He was recently there with his wife and kids looking for a Halloween costume.

“I was thinking about Pennywise the clown,” he said. “But we’ll see. I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Garcia said he’s sad to hear the store is closing.

“This is a place we’ve been coming to every year, and now we’re going to find a different location,” he said.

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