Scranton Costume Shop Marks 100 Years of Service
The local business continues to serve theater and school groups under new ownership as it enters its second century.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Taney's Costume Shop reaches a 100-year milestone in Scranton, following a change in leadership earlier this year. The store continues its local service model of costume rentals and custom balloon work for schools and theater groups.
Why it matters
Longevity in the retail costume sector relies on balancing specialized, service-heavy inventory like rentals with high-turnover goods like balloons. Success hinges on a firm's ability to maintain these distinct revenue streams during peak seasonal demand.
Taney's Costume Shop has reached its 100-year anniversary in Scranton. The business is currently five days away from the Halloween holiday, its peak operational window.
The players
Taney's Costume Shop
A long-standing retail business in Scranton specializing in costume rentals and custom balloons.
Ashley Nole
The current owner who assumed leadership of the century-old shop in February 2026.
The details
The business operates by blending high-touch, consultative retail sales with volume-driven seasonal rentals. Staff facilitate transactions by physically guiding customers through costume assembly, matching accessories to core items like hats to build complete looks. This hands-on approach is critical for the shop's theater and school-based clientele.
Timeline
February 2026: Ashley Nole assumed ownership of the shop.
October 27, 2026: The business marked the start of its final five-day push toward Halloween.
November 1, 2026: The peak Halloween season concludes.
Market Landscape
The shop represents the endurance of family-owned retail institutions in an increasingly digitized marketplace. Its survival demonstrates the effectiveness of maintaining a niche service-heavy model that balances local theater demand against seasonal retail spikes.
Operators in the seasonal retail sector should analyze the shop's model of pairing niche rentals with reliable, high-margin goods like balloons. Diversifying revenue streams is a proven strategy for sustaining operations beyond the primary holiday rush.
The takeaway
Maintaining 100 years of operations requires integrating high-touch, consultative service that creates value beyond simple inventory. Track seasonal labor metrics and rental turnover rates to see if your current staff allocation maximizes the brief window around peak holidays.
Further reading
For broader trends on business longevity, view Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOLF.
Live Poll
Do you prefer shopping at independent local stores instead of large retailers for your seasonal costumes?
