By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

A popular Wyoming icon will close its doors at the end of the year, concluding a 30-year adventure while ushering in a new chapter.

Randy and Gayle Vaartjes have spent over three decades assisting customers from all over the United States and Canada disguise themselves year-round through their family-owned costume retail store, The Kostume Room.

The Kostume Room provided costumes, professional makeup, wigs, and accessories for almost every event, including: Halloween, school and church plays, museums and the film industry.

But, to Gayle and Randy, costumes were more than just a business. It was fun.

“I enjoyed every single customer that came through our door,” said Gayle, adding that it was fun to help customers pick out their costumes. “It’s fun to help them create what they’re looking for.”

Many times, after seeing all The Kostume Room had to offer, customers would change their mind about what costume they wanted and walk out the door with a completely different ensemble.

When asked why people enjoy dressing up so much, Gayle said, “I think, personally, because they can be someone else, and they can act differently.”

“Disguise Yourself”

Randy and Gayle called their store “an adventure of a lifetime” that opened its doors in 1993 with a mission to help customers disguise themselves all year long.

The adventure began when Gayle and her sister decided to sell Halloween costumes they had made for their kids. When that endeavor met with success, the sisters continued making children’s costumes and selling them on consignment at a local thrift store.

“Back then there really wasn’t much [for costumes],” said Gayle. “Not only that, we didn’t even know where to get costumes – and we weren’t going to pay retail for them. So we put them in the thrift store.”

As the costumes continued to sell, the women became aware of a Halloween show for costume creators to buy goods. That discovery elevated their business to new heights. After the first year, the sisters found retail space in Rogers Plaza.

“We kept growing each year. After the sixth or seventh year, it was time to find a home,” Gayle said, gesturing around their current location.

The next year, they offered adult costumes as well. Gayle received special requests for costumes and made a few for the store as well – “but really not as much as I would have liked to.”

Gayle’s wish had been to spend time sewing costumes in the back room of the store. However, she was needed at the front of the store and much of the sewing fell to her mother and sister.

During retirement, however, Gayle will put her sewing skills to good use.

“My plans are to use my skills and make historical costumes, or whatever people would like me to do,” said Gayle, adding that she plans to sell them on eBay or Etsy.

A unique business

Though the couple planned to sell the business within the next few years, their timeline was accelerated when they received an unexpected offer for the building. They decided to accept.

“Now we’re looking for a buyer to buy the business side of it, move it out and relocate it someplace else,” said Randy, adding that their wish is for the business name to continue on.

But that is not as easy as it sounds.

The business, said Gayle, is extremely unique. Many people do not understand how much work is put in behind the scenes.

Special touches to service – such as re-curling Santa wigs after washing – combined with maintaining thousands of accessories and the 41 racks of costumes, is not for the faint of heart.

A desire to give back

Randy and Gayle gave back to various local organizations throughout the years, including Kids Food Basket, American Cancer Society, Paws with a Cause and Whooriders.

The Kostume Room also offers assistance to cancer survivors through the Wig Bank.

“I’m a cancer survivor,” said Gayle. “And I decided that I was going to give back. I donate really nice wigs to women going through chemo or any hair loss.”

Gayle originally helped provide wigs through the American Cancer Society (ACS), but when the program ended, Gayle took up the mission. Instead of returning the wigs ACS donated to the store, Gayle continued the program through The Kostume Room.

When asked what inspires the couple to give back, Gayle shrugged. “Just wanting to help,” she said simply.

The next chapter

What’s next for the retiring couple?

“We’re going to travel,” said Gayle with a smile. The couple has always wanted to visit the Netherlands – and now they will. “That’s our big trip. The rest will be small trips; there are so many places we haven’t been to in the United states.”

The Vaartjes’ upcoming adventure, however, will be bittersweet.

“I didn’t realize how much we meant to the community, I really didn’t,” said Gayle. “I was just doing my job.

“Throughout the years I’ve made good friends with people, and I don’t like seeing them sad because then it makes me sad.”

A message from Randy and Gayle Vaartjes

“Thank you for being our customers,” said Randy, adding that he has enjoyed seeing the generations change over time. “We see kids that are growing up coming in with their kids. And they’re telling us that they were kids when their parents brought them in here.”

“It was our pleasure, more than they know,” Gayle said. “Our customers are Number One. If we didn’t have them, we would have been gone a long time ago. That’s what makes this happen. We’re just the directors.”

But wait – there’s more!

Though The Kostume Room doors will close for the final time at the end of the year, they are not closed yet!

“I just want to make sure everyone knows that we were not closed yet,” said Randy. “There is still a lot of inventory to choose from!”

The Kostume Room hours are Monday-Friday from 12-7 p.m., and Saturday from 12-5 p.m. They are now closed on Sundays.

Learn more about The Kostume Room here.