Beloved Costume Shop Reopens In Montgomery Co. After Fire Kept Doors Closed

KENSINGTON, MD — Gene's Costumes is officially back open and serving customers after an electrical fire forced the business to shutter operations for nearly three years.

The costume shop, located at 10636 Connecticut Ave. in Kensington, is owned by Ginger Ager and supplies a wide range of items, from full-service costumes to accessories.

The business' Oct. 1 opening was years in the making after an electrical fire that broke out in the shop's basement put operations on hold in January 2024.

Ager told WTOP News the fire had amounted to about $100,000 in losses and saw her having to store remaining inventory at various locations over the last few years as she worked to salvage what she could.

"We hear from old customers all the time, and they’ve been reaching out during the whole time, asking if there’s anything they can do to help," she told the outlet. "I have some wonderful customers, wonderful friends."

While repairs were being carried out to reopen the store, Ager worked with local theatre productions to supply costumes she still had available.

Residents can visit the store anytime Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. MyMCMedia reported that closing would be pushed back to 9 p.m. in the two weeks before Halloween.

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