It’s a sad day but there are 35-years of happy memories to reflect on as a Watford institution shop shuts down.
Owners Jean and Robin Harper are clearing the last rail of stock from Masquerade Fancy Dress Watford and cleaning the unit to hand it over this morning (April 3).
Last week, they confirmed that the business would cease trading soon, once the sale of the building was complete, and this took place yesterday.
“Its very strange in here, all empty, its so sad - 35 years I’ve been here,” Jean said.
“We’ve had a lovely happy time here for the last 35 years.”
Laughing, she added that family members of the couple, who are in their 80s, think they should “retire and rake it easy for a little while”.
Customers over the years have included children they dressed up who have become parents and brought their own children in, as well as celebrities like Vinnie Jones, Graham Taylor, and Adam Woodyatt.
Although it was not the reason for the closure, Jean acknowledged that business had become slower in the last two or three years.
The lifelong Rickmansworth resident said: “It has got quieter since Covid really.
“When that hit it seemed to quieten down.
"Maybe people aren’t partying as much as they used to.”
The business started as an offshoot of Jean’s passion for amateur theatre.
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As an active member of Rickmansworth Players and the Pump House theatre, she built up “quite a collection” of costumes for her own use before realising she could make a business out of renting them out.
The couple recalled when there used to be three similar businesses in Watford, but when they closed they were “probably the last ones standing”.
One last rack of costumes is set to be donated to Peace Hospice Care today.
“The Harpers are leaving the building,” Jean added, as she said goodbye to her and her husband’s store.
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