By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Ricky’s NYC is scaring up attention in Upper Manhattan this Halloween with their first retail outlet above 125th Street.
The Ricky’s Costume Superstore, located 610 W. 181st St., between Wadsworth and St. Nicholas avenues, is a temporary pop-up Halloween costume store that will sell costumes and Halloween accoutrements from Oct. 1 until Nov. 1.
Before the Washington Heights location, Ricky’s had never ventured farther up than 125th Street in Harlem, where they opened their first Upper Manhattan pop-up store last Halloween.
Todd Kenig, chairman of Ricky’s NYC, said that this year, they had decided to move even further uptown, citing what he called an "obligation" to bring Halloween to the masses.
"Regardless of age, sex, nationality or economic status we feel that Halloween is an occasion where everyone can let loose and have fun so we want to make our Halloween goods as accessible as possible for everyone to enjoy," Kenig said.
Washington Heights native Aneiry Taylor, 23, said she was excited to see the store open.
"The lines are always crazy downtown, so if I can get my costume uptown that’s better for me," she said, adding she planned to dress like pop star Lady Gaga for the holiday.
But for all of the excitement, longtime Washington Heights resident Christine O’Hare, 59, shrugs her shoulders at the excitement over the store.
"I remember when people made their costumes," she said, noting that she does not plan to dress up this year. "Although I worry when chain stores move into the neighborhood, it’s still nice to see new business here, but I still say a handmade costume beats a store bought one any day."
