The damaged basement of Gene's Costumes
NCA Member Gene's Costumes in Kensington, Maryland suffered a serious electrical fire on January 2 that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the building and has severely disrupted business. The store's 30 years worth of inventory in the basement was also greatly damaged. Owner Ginger Ager told WTOP News that the biggest current problem is that the electricity and gas are shut off, so she can't even begin cleaning up.
A message posted on the store's website reads: "On January 2, 2024 we experienced a basement fire with significant loss. Please consider helping us get back up and operating. The primary damage was done in the basement where we store a large portion of our rental and retail inventory. Cleaning and restoring these areas will be required."
A GoFundMe page has been started to help the business get back on its feet. Please consider donating: https://www.gofundme.com/f/genes-costume-shop