CHICAGO (WLS) -- Broadway Costumes isn't just for Halloween. This Chicago store dresses actors across the country all year long.
"Broadway Costumes is a theatrical rental service. We do full service rentals for just about anything. We're not a Halloween store but we spend a lot of time working with theatrical rentals," Bob Schramm, owner of Broadway Costumes, said.
The biggest part of their business is costumes for high school and community theater musicals, Schramm said. It all started with Fritz Schoultz in 1886.
"Fritz was a German immigrant who came to America to bring opera to America. And he started by building Opera costumes for sale and for rental to people through America," Schramm said.
There are real items mixed in with the make-believe magic.
"These two jackets. They're actually from the Civil War. They are authentic Civil War jackets," Schramm said. "These are not costumes at all."
If Broadway Costumes doesn't have what a customer is looking for, costumers make them from scratch. But there's plenty to choose from.
"We figure we have between 100,000 and 125,000 garments on hangers," Schramm said.
Broadway Costumes, Inc
1100 W Cermak Rd B302, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 829-6400