From costumes to entertainment to offering family fun, some St. Albert businesses are seeing sales surge in advance of Oct. 31.
“It seems busy. We’ve sold a lot but I’m not sure on the exact numbers,” said Cindy CĂ´tĂ©, manager of Dollarama on St. Albert Trail.
Her store has committed an entire section to the annual day of costumes and treats, from decorations and costumes to candy and Halloween accessories.
“It’s all Halloween stuff, so it’s quite loaded,” she said.
Just across the street in Tudor Glen, Karrie’s Kostumes is also experiencing robust business as residents come in searching for a costume to either rent or buy.
“We’re down to the last crunch here in the last few days,” owner Karrie Verhulsg said, the sounds of phones ringing in the background. This is traditionally the store’s busy season as individuals are looking not just for Halloween costumes but for Santa suits as well.
“We’re an all-year store, not just a pop-up guy,” Verhulst said. Popular with the children this year are generic costumes such as Harry Potter and the Mario Brothers. Teens are looking for outfits associated with the Twilight series of movies. Women are eyeing up costumes from the movie Black Swan, while men are taking a more singular approach.
“For the men, you know those guys at the Vancouver Canucks’ games that dress up in the green suits? We have lots of young men and adults coming in for the morph suits like that,” she said.
Other businesses across St. Albert run brisk business as well during Halloween, especially with a weekend preceding the actual day. The Crown & Tower will be hosting its annual Tower Howler tonight, featuring live music and a best costume contest.
“I remember last year one guy came dressed looking exactly like Captain Morgan,” said owner Troy Marchak, referring to the spiced rum mascot.
Marchak says Halloween, regardless of the day, is always busier than a regular other evening.
“We decorate the pub, we do it very nice,” he said.
For the first time, Grandin Theatres is moving beyond just putting up Halloween decorations in its lobby. This year the theatre will erect a haunted house and feature pumpkin carving for families. Grandin will also be airing a Halloween movie every 20 minutes that has yet to be selected. In the past the theatre aired the Saw horror movies, which until this year debuted a new instalment of the series every Halloween.
“Usually we have the place decorated, but we don’t do anything,” said manager Amy Woloszyn. “We just want to get some more people here, let people know we’re not just a movie theatre and that we’d like to interact more with the community.”
