Halloween sale gathers costumes from theaters around Austin

Theater clothing can bring extra drama to any Halloween project.

A local theater organization is making past productions work for Austin's Halloween future. The Halloween Costume & Thrift Sale returns October 10 and 11 at Sterling Stage Austin, where visitors will be able to buy costumes used in shows. Last year's sale was so popular that this year there will be new VIP tickets for a small fee.

Austin's Halloween shoppers lost a major resource when local costume shop Lucy in Disguise closed in 2022 after 40 years in business. The store sold and rented costumes and vintage clothes. But those shoppers weren't completely on their own. Costume designer Jennifer Davis and ATX Theatre, an organization for theater-lovers and professionals, filled the gap with the help of other local costume designers and theater companies all over town.

The sale started in Davis' driveway four years ago.

"We want to ensure that the wardrobe and costuming items that our film and theatre industry uses have extended life after their good service in the arts," said Davis in a press release. "As more film and TV projects make their way back to Texas, we’d love to continue to grow this thing into a year-round thrift store someday."

ATX Theatre founder Sharron Anderson added, "This sale rolls out a festive, local vibe. Think funky pop-up thrift store mixed with Austin's beloved Lucy in Disguise costume shop — R.I.P., Lucy's!"

Guests to the 2026 sale can expect to browse custom costumes, vintage and everyday clothes, 500 historical period sewing patterns, handmade hats, and materials that are waiting for a new purpose, the press release says. Some of the participating theaters and stores include the Archive Theatre, Walking Shadow Shakespeare, and Fashion Love Affair. The founder of Shrewd Productions will also bring some Halloween-themed jewelry.

Individual vendors will operate their own racks, and the floor will be divided into different zones to help organize the browsing. Vendor applications are still open at the time of this article's publication.

New this year, a VIP ticket ($5) lets shoppers in two hours early, from 10 am to noon, on the first day, Saturday. After the VIP shopping period is over, everyone else enters for free until the market closes at 5 pm. Guests are welcome to walk in, but those who register in advance at the same link will get priority entry. Volunteers will enter even earlier to help set up, giving them an additional preview.

The Halloween Costume & Thrift Sale runs from 10 am to 5 pm both days.

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Houston's by-the-pound clothing store The Bins opens near UT Austin

Photo by Kimberly Reeves

The Bins is opening a by-the-pound thrift store at 2915 Guadalupe

A Houston clothing store that sells secondhand finds by the pound opens its first permanent Austin location September 25. The Bins is located at 2915 Guadalupe St., just north of the University of Texas campus and directly across the street from secondhand clothing store Pavement.

The grand opening runs from 10 am-9 pm, which will also be the store’s regular daily schedule. Clothing will cost $10 per pound during opening weekend, and the company is advertising prizes for shoppers on opening day.

Afterward, The Bins will follow the same weekly pricing schedule used at its Houston store. Clothing will cost $10 per pound from Friday through Sunday, then drop to $5 on Monday, $3 on Tuesday, $2 on Wednesday, and $1 on Thursday. The sliding scale allows shoppers to visit at the beginning of the weekly cycle or wait for the deepest discounts later in the week.

The store carries men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, including some vintage and name-brand pieces. The Bins says its inventory is handpicked and separated by clothing type, offering a more curated version of the by-the-pound shopping model also used by Goodwill Outlet stores.

The location has hosted a similar concept before. Flamingos Vintage Pound previously operated at 2915 Guadalupe before moving nearby to 2820 Guadalupe St. in late 2024. Flamingos remains open, putting The Bins within close walking distance of another store selling vintage and secondhand clothing by the pound.

The company has focused on college markets, opening a location in College Station and hosting an Austin pop-up in 2024. It advertises the permanent Austin store as being just up the road from UT. According to its social-media posts, The Bins originally expected to open in March, but said a supplier had “ghosted” the company, postponing the opening until September.

The building also has a notable place in Austin’s entertainment history. Antone’s nightclub operated at 2915 Guadalupe during the 1980s. At the time, The Fabulous Thunderbirds served as the house band. I Luv Video before closing its Guadalupe location in 2015, followed by various local retailers.

The Bins joins an already busy secondhand-shopping corridor. Pavement sits directly across the street, while Flamingos Vintage Pound, Buffalo Exchange, and Leopard Lounge are all nearby on Guadalupe. The building also houses Tintaraa Indian Cuisine, which opened in March.

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