SHOPPING: Last-minute options for fright night items

Here's the scenario: It's Oct. 27 and a good friend just invited the whole family to an impromptu Halloween party. You scream because there are four people in your household and, as of this moment, not a costume in sight.

Thank goodness for local second-hand stores and seasonal megastores. Although many places will be picked through by the time you get there, at least the costumes left won't be expensive.

Area Savers thrift stores offer costumes for kids as well as adults, and range from $9.98 to $19.98 for brand new ensembles courtesy of Ruby's of the East Coast.

Patricia Campbell, coordinator for the Halloween department at the Savers store located at 1100 E. Charleston Blvd., said when the new merchandise goes, the store restocks with donated items that sell for a lot less money. When makeup and wardrobe modifications are needed, stores like Savers sell parts of costumes that also are easy on the wallet.

"Some of the things we have are just little pieces, if people need a hood or something," Campbell said. "That would run about $1.99."

Karen Vanarsdale, a team leader in the seasonal department at Target in Boca Park in Summerlin, said adults are late to purchase costumes this year, which may lend itself to a large selection for the frantic procrastinator.

"Costumes are about $14.99 for kids, although there are some really neat ones for $30," she said. "It usually ranges from $20 to $30 for adults."

For makeup, wigs and rubber masks, Spirit Halloween Superstores -- with three locations in Las Vegas and Henderson -- have wall-to-wall selections that will be available at 50 percent off on Halloween.

Brinnon Scott, co-owner of the stores, said the average mask retails for about $20 until Oct. 31. But there are plenty of accoutrements priced lower and higher.

"The thing is, we are definitely the largest in town, at 20,000 square feet per store," Scott said. "Costumes vary. You can get capes from $5. As far as teeth go, they go all the way from $2 to $20, from the actual vampire fangs to the set for kids."

Using a little bit of ingenuity, a family with an array of black clothing and a creative parent can purchase an entire kit of makeup for about $19.99 at Spirit. The stores also sell grease makeup tubes for $3 each.

"We actually are national buyers, so we have so much merchandise," Scott said. "We get pretty picked through, but we really bought heavy in a lot of areas so we'd have the largest selection at the end. Trucks keep bringing stuff by every day."

Scott said kids this season seem to be sticking with the time-honored favorites like Spider-Man, while parents or other adults are choosing couples costumes.

"As far as adults, it's varied," he said. "But the couples costumes are really popular. If the females go as something, the male goes as the complement to that, such as the ball and chain."

Spirit stores are located at Maryland Parkway at Flamingo Road, U.S. Highway 95 at Jones Boulevard, and the Las Vegas Beltway at Eastern Avenue.

And if Fido is the only date you can find when the day arrives, Puppy Enterprises carries a complete line of doggie dress-up items, from pigs to dragons to chili peppers that range from $19 to $40.

Owner Philip Mathews said he learned his lesson about ordering too few costumes to support the Halloween influx of traffic, so the likelihood of finding a funny shroud for your furry friend is high.

"This year I have an ample supply for the last-minute shopper," Mathews said. "I'm ready."

Puppy Enterprises is located at 1780 N. Buffalo Drive, Suite 106

Ellen Ziegler is the reporter for the Southeast and Sunrise Views. Retail information appropriate for mention may be sent to eziegler@viewnews.com. Spirit Halloween Superstores are located at Maryland Parkway at Flamingo Road, U.S. Highway 95 at Jones Boulevard, and the Las Vegas Beltway at Eastern Avenue. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Savers thrift shops are located at 1100 E. Charleston Blvd., 3145 E. Tropicana Ave., 3121 N. Rancho Drive and 5130 Spring Mountain Road. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Target has eight locations valley-wide and is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Puppy Enterprises is located at 1780 N. Buffalo Drive, Suite 106, and is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.


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