Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).
Walking into the Wizard’s Chest on Broadway for the first time feels like stepping into a movie studio. There’s a whole corner dedicated to professional-grade makeup. A tree with every shade of wig nearly touches the ceiling. And rows and rows of costumes – from princesses to killer clowns, anime characters and even a Cholula hot sauce outfit – line the walls.
Employees at the Wizard’s Chest are all dressed in Halloween costumes leading up to the holiday. (Photo by Lily O’Neill, The Denver Post)
The interior’s design is inspired by Middle-Earth, the setting of J.R.R. Tolkien’s tales of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of The Rings.” (Photo by Lily O’Neill, The Denver Post)
One corner of the Wizard’s Chest is dedicated to professional-grade makeup. (Photo by Lily O’Neill, The Denver Post)
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Even though I start putting my fall and spooky decorations up come September, I’m usually scrambling to find a Halloween costume until the last minute, which is why I fell in love with the Wizard’s Chest. I’ve been securing my costume there for the past three years, and haven’t stepped into a Spirit Halloween since. This year, I think I’ll be “Where’s Waldo?” for my nephew’s birthday and possibly a character from “Beetlejuice” for the main event. (Like I said, I’m last-minute.)
It might take you more than an hour to make your way through the 16,000-foot fortress, designed to look like Middle-Earth, the setting of Tolkien’s tales of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of The Rings,” according to the website. But turn to the various employees dressed as Alice in Wonderland, Tinkerbell, Mario or Mad Hatter, and they’ll happily guide you through the whimsical Neverland. It’s the perfect place for inspiration.
The Wizard’s Chest, owned by Kevin Pohle and Brad Brickley, has been disguising the Denver community since 1983, with its original location in Cherry Creek. The store moved out of the Fillmore Street location in 2015. Local installation artist Lonnie Hanzon, who is also behind Lakewood’s annual Camp Christmas installation, designed the Broadway building’s castle facade.
Costumes never go out of style, even when Halloween is over. Unlike some of the other pop-up stores, this family-owned business is here to dress you year-round. And there’s more: If you make your way out of the dressing room and down the dragon-lined basement stairs, you’ll discover a nerd’s paradise of board games, action figurines, science kits and toys.
Hopefully, you secured your costume before the Wizard’s Chest annual Halloween parade, held on Oct. 21 this year down Broadway between Fifth Avenue and Alameda Street.
451 Broadway, Denver; wizardschest.com; Open Tues.-Thurs. from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
