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By Siran Babyan
Shopping for Halloween doesn't have to end after the pumpkins have dried up. Unlike the seasonal, pop-up shops that disappeared last November along with Miley's VMA twerking ensemble, there are several Halloween stores around town that cater to your dress-up and decorating needs throughout the year. Bookmark this when the urge to wear a Freddie Krueger mask or dress like a slutty nurse strikes in March.
Halloween Adventure Superstore
With two Valley stores (the one in Canoga Park is conveniently located a few blocks from a strip club), you can look for trendy, tried-and-true and unique costumes at Halloween Adventure Superstore any time. (Who knew Slipknot had their own line?) Of course, you can’t make your own next level get-up without accessories, whether it’s feather boas, fake cigarettes or a pimp stick. Other specialties here include plastic body parts, bins and bins of insects and rodents and an entire wall of masks. It’s nice to know Monica Lewinsky hasn’t been forgotten.
Halloween Adventure Superstore is located at 13720 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks and 8443 Canoga Ave., Canoga Park. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Francisco’s
Located near the railroad tracks, Francisco’s is an odd find, and once you’re inside, you might have to kick a few boxes out of your way. But it’s been a local mainstay for more than 30 years, and the entire store is currently on sale. Beyond the costumes—some you can rent—they have an impressive array of Venetian masks, wings of every shape, size and color and cop and biker regalia. But if your taste is more crass than cute, they have novelty items like glow-in-the-dark maggots and a gynecologist costume kit.
Francisco’s is located at 15900 Old Valley Blvd., La Puente. Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Halloween Town
What other place sells Rob Zombie’s Hellbilly Brew Coffee, art prints by makeup-effects master Rick Baker and Dexter barbecue aprons under the same roof? Located in the Burbank’s quaint Magnolia Park area—which is lined with vintage shops and includes the always-crowded Porto’s Bakery—Halloween Town isn’t just a once-a-year stop, it’s a local attraction and hangout, namely for enthusiasts of Disney, horror/sci-fi and hot rod culture. There are themed rooms; a makeshift graveyard; Dia de los Muertos section; two walls of band and horror movie T-shirts; fashion apparel; and all things quirky, from vintage straight razors to opera glasses to an antique organ. And recently, they’ve expanded to include two additional stores down the street, which house adult and children’s costumes. Over the years, it’s also become an artists’ hub, hosting annual, themed group shows in the store’s parlor that showcase works inspired by monsters, Valentine’s Day and the Haunted Mansion.
Halloween Town is located at 2921 W. Magnolia Blvd. Sun., 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Mon.-Wed. & Fri.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Halloween Club
If the enormity doesn’t give it away, Halloween Club has everything. As big as an airplane hangar, it’s where home-haunt professionals, or anyone planning a supersize party, come to stock up on fog machines, sound effects, black light, life-size, animatronic creatures and other props that’ll scare off trick-or-treaters. There are oddities at every turn—zombie flamingo lawn art?—not to mention more than a dozen aisles of adult, children’s, plus-size, pet and naughty-themed costumes, some with really disturbing names, including “Fart-O-Meter,” “Sperm Bank” and “But Mommy, I Don’t Wanna Grow Up!” Throughout the year, the La Mirada flagship store also hosts events, including a spook show and costume faire, with vendors, performers and sales.
Halloween Club is located at 7107 Telegraph Rd., Montebello and 14447 Firestone Blvd., La Mirada. Sun.-Mon., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Traditions
This is where you bring your grandmother to, especially if she’s looking for a Downton Abbey ornament. Traditions is a general holiday store, with crafts, folk art and all manner of knick knacks that fill up every inch of space, in addition to big and small Christmas trees decorated according to themes (food, animals) and all the major holidays. There’s nothing gory here; the Halloween ornaments, figurines and vintage-looking decorations that you can’t find in the big-name stores—from throw pillows to miniature haunted villages—are only mildly spooky. And if you ever want to meet some the artists behind the collectibles, the store hosts signing events, as well as raffles.
Traditions is located at 8039 Deering Ave., Canoga Park. Sun., 12 noon-4 p.m.; Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
