About Us

A Little Bit About Arlene's...

Arlene’s Costumes is a must see. It is not your typical mall costume shop. With over 100 vendors to draw from, the array of theatrical and
Halloween merchandise is incredible.  Unique gifts, hats, wigs, beards, gloves, leg wear and lingerie, theatrical makeup, retail and rental costumes including mascots, Santa, Easter, Halloween and more fill the showcases and line the walls.

Arlene’s was founded in 1956 when Arlene Stephens and her mother Mildred “Molly” Stephens ran Arlene’s out of a small store on East Main Street in Rochester. Arlene and Molly saw children in the neighborhood wearing garbage bags on Halloween and decided to start making costumes for kids. That, of
course, was just the beginning.

In 1975, Arlene’s Costumes moved to its long-time home at 1156 Culver Road. Rentals such as overhead parade outfits and vintage period costumes were the main attraction at that time. As business grew, retail became more and more popular. In 1982, Arlene’s opened a new one-of-a-kind 500 sq. ft retail store front in addition to its already impressive rental space.

Over the years, Arlene’s outgrew that space opening seasonal locations in Western New York area shopping malls and plazas. Bursting at the seams, Arlene’s moved to its current 10,000 sq. ft. showroom on Portland Avenue in Rochester, NY in 2003. This beautiful facility offers traditional Halloween costumes for children as well as adults, theatrical makeup, accessories, and novelties to meet all theatrical, business, school and of course Halloween needs.

Arlene and her professional staff are focused on assisting you in making theater productions, special events and Halloween parties unforgettable. With over 100 vendors to draw from, the array of theatrical and Halloween merchandise is incredible.

We Invite You to Join in the Fun...

You remember every costume you ever wore for Halloween – the super hero, the policeman, the princess, the pirate, the cat. If you are from Rochester, New York, or lived there anytime in the last 65+ years, chances are you got your Halloween costume from Arlene’s Costumes.

Unique gifts, hats, wigs, beards, gloves, leg wear and lingerie, theatrical makeup, retail and rental costumes including mascots, Santa and other holiday costumes, Easter, Halloween and more fill the showcases and line the walls.

Fun is our business. Fun is our brand. Fun is the instant thought that pops into your mind when you hear about us. No matter if you are looking for something specific or just have a little extra time in your day, come in to Arlene’s and play, play, play!

We look forward to celebrating with you and helping you find the perfect items to add fun to your next event!

We're all about family, fun & costumes...

Arlene's Costumes Mission

At Arlene’s Costumes, we are more than just a costume shop; we are a family. Rooting our operations in deep-seated family values, we aim to provide our community, and our extended community, with not just an extensive selection of rental and retail costumes and accessories and theatrical makeup, but an unforgettable experience. Our well-educated team is dedicated to bringing joy
and entertainment to everyone, focusing on individual needs to ensure every
visit is unique. We're not just offering costumes; we're inviting you to be part of a story, your story, crafted with care, knowledge, and a personal touch
that only a family-owned business can provide.