Gene’s Costumes, a long-standing fixture in the Kensington, Maryland community, reopened its doors on October 1 after being closed for nearly two years due to an electrical fire. The small costume shop, located off Connecticut Avenue, has served customers across the Washington, D.C. area for decades, offering rentals and sales of costumes for a variety of occasions.

Owner Ginger Ager, who purchased the business in 1989 after working there part-time, said the reopening marks a significant relief after the fire forced the shop to close in early 2024. Despite the closure of the physical location, Ager maintained operations by renting costumes primarily to local theater companies. However, her goal remained to restore the storefront and resume serving walk-in customers.

“The fire did not damage the costumes on the main floor,” Ager said, noting that she packed and stored the inventory carefully during the shop’s closure. She declined requests from individual customers to buy costumes during this period, focusing instead on community groups such as schools, theaters, churches, and synagogues.

Renovations have included a complete restoration of the basement and updates to the store’s layout and carpeting. Funding came partly from Ager’s personal savings, which were established by her grandparents, as well as from community support, including a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $19,500.

Gene’s Costumes is known locally not only for Halloween but also for providing attire for events ranging from historical reenactments to Christmas celebrations. The shop’s diverse inventory includes mascot heads, period dresses, superhero and villain accessories, and seasonal costumes like Santa suits and elf outfits.

Many customers have longstanding ties to the store. Caroline Black, who recently shopped for a theatrical production, praised Gene’s as her go-to source for quality costumes. Local resident Nell Rumbaugh recalled visiting the shop with high school friends in the 1980s and now brings her daughter there, highlighting the store’s multigenerational appeal.

Ager’s son, Austin, who grew up around the shop, described the reopening as especially meaningful, given his mother’s decades-long dedication. “No one dragged their feet when it came to restoring the building,” he said.

After passing a final inspection in early September, Ager set an October 1 reopening date—even though much of the inventory remained in storage. She cited the importance of the timing to coincide with the Halloween season.

Since reopening, customer response has been overwhelmingly positive. Visitors often express their happiness to see Gene’s active again, reinforcing the shop’s role as a beloved local institution.

Chris Levintow, who brought his children to the store recently, reflected on his own memories of shopping there years ago. “The world’s changing,” he said, “but when I’m driving down Connecticut Avenue, if I see Gene’s Costumes here, I see the big pumpkin — things are okay.”