The lost dress shop where everyone went on Halloween

This week, nostalgically, we continue our look back at Coventry’s lost shops. The Fancy Dress Arcade has been a popular party venue for generations in Coventry, particularly at Halloween and New Year’s Eve.

Known for their eye-catching displays, people loved the range of costumes you can get to make your evening a night to remember.

The store is now closed for good and the City Arcade which housed it is soon to be demolished as part of the City Center South regeneration programme.

Reviews from when the store was still open show why it was such a popular place with great customer service even after the rise of online shopping. One reviewer said: “Awesome little costume shop, they have tons to choose from and even some items I thought you could only get online.

“I went in to buy some Halloween contact lenses as I usually order them online every year as Halloween is my Christmas. They are some of the most comfortable lenses I have ever purchased and they are well worth the money, they are not expensive at all. You have to get yours from here!”

Another said: “After being disappointed by an online retailer who failed to deliver my Halloween costume in time, I decided to try and buy something locally. An easy walk from my office downtown took me to Arcade Fancy Dress. Since it was very close to the main Halloween weekend, I was afraid I left too late as the store was quite busy.

“No drama, I was served in a leisurely, pleasant and efficient manner. I received a decent suit that I could try on to make sure it fit me correctly. And all for a little less than I would have paid online. Highly recommended.”

See more nostalgia content here. Don’t forget to share your memories of Arcade Fancy Dress in the comments.

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