Best of Carmichael & Fair Oaks: Best Costume shop with history

Looking through the window of Capital Costumes Inc. in Fair Oaks, visitors will find circular clothing racks full of costumes, a few glass cases filled with makeup and a wall of shelves filled with shoes. It looks like just a normal costume shop, with everything one might need for Halloween available year-round.

But then there’s a 3- to 4-foot-long wooden trunk near the door with hand-painted lettering: “W. H. Enos Masquerade and Theatrical Costumer, Sacramento.” It looks at least 50 years old, maybe older. And it signals that this costume shop doesn’t have an ordinary history.

William H. Enos started a costume business in 1910, according to Capital Costumes’ website. He’d travel by train or horse throughout Northern California to supply costumes for stage productions. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, his business expanded, and in 1936, he opened Enos Department Store for Women, Theatrical Costumes & Masquerade on J Street in downtown Sacramento. Lloyd W. Charlesworth purchased the business in 1946 and renamed it Capital Costumes before selling it to his employee Claude L. Purvis in 1969.

It was still located on J Street when Anna Silva and co-owner Arlene Wright bought it in 1980. They moved it to East Sacramento in 1983 and then to Fair Oaks in ’86. Then they brought in a third owner, Alicia Cappel, in 1989. (Arlene is mother to Anna and Alicia.)

Today, their family-run business mainly consists of renting and selling “costumes, makeup and dance wear,” says Cappel, but it also slings wigs, hats, gloves, leotards and tights.

It’s struggled a bit in recent times. Thankfully, the growing popularity of cosplay has helped the 100-year-old business weather the recession.

“It’s picking up a bit,” says Cappel. “It was kind of scary, so it’s nice that it’s still here.” 8121 Madison Avenue, Suite F-1 in Fair Oaks; (916) 961-2769; www.capitalcostumesanddancewear.com.