LISBON

After 62 years of dressing people as pirates, princesses, superheroes, villains and everything in between, Drapeau’s Costumes of Maine in Lisbon is shutting its doors.

Owner Kris Cornish of Topsham purchased the store, which was originally located on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, and moved it to Main Street in Lisbon 12 years ago. A few years later, as the 2009 recession set in, business began to suffer, she said.

The situation just didn’t get any better from there, Cornish said Tuesday. While business always picks up for Halloween, year-round sales were suffering — in part because of retail websites like Amazon.com.

“I can’t compete with the online fast and cheap,” she said, adding that many other costume stores have closed with the rise of online costume sales.

There have also been some nonprofit organizations with lower quality costumes that moved into the area, she said, and skimmed some of her high school business providing costumes for plays.

Cornish put the building up for sale three years ago and sold it in late August — however, no one bought the business itself. She decided she would sell most of the collection and bring the rest home, or sell off the costumes as assets.

The decision to sell was very difficult, and the process of closing has been physically taxing and emotionally draining, Cornish said. She and her two parttime workers — who have hand-sewn many of the approximately 4,000 costumes — have shed many tears with customers over the past few weeks.

Employee Diane Meservier has worked at the store for just over 40 years.

“I love to make people happy,” she said Tuesday.

She’s loved working with customers, always trying to make them laugh. She’s made many of the costumes herself and said while it’s hard to see them go, she’s happy they’re going to good homes, she said.

Meservier said she plans to retire when the store closes, but will most likely still do some mending from home. She said Cornish has been a joy to work with because they have inspired and energized one another.

For Cornish, the future is still uncertain. She said she may open an Etsy business and sew gowns for people, but hasn’t committed to the idea just yet. From the costume shop, she plans to keep some Christmas costumes, Easter bunnies, her Star Wars collection and mascots — items that can’t be found anywhere else. She will also maintain a website and Facebook page.

The store will remain open until Halloween and most of the costumes are going for their rental fees — between $40 and $50. While many costumes have been snatched up, there are still plenty of pieces remaining.

Leaving with Drapeau’s is a lot of expertise in costuming and customer service. When a person walks into Drapeau’s and lets the staff works their magic, they always walk out well dressed, Cornish said. Her favorite part of the job is working with customers — many of whom immediately greet her with a kiss and a hug, asking about her family.

Her message Tuesday was this: “Please, please, please shop your local stores, because we are disappearing,” Cornish said, adding that disappearing local shops means less choice in neighborhoods. “I have to leave the best job I ever had and find something else to do.”

Drapeau’s will be open today from noon to 7 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Saturday will be the “big party” day, she said. After Halloween there will be another big sale where she expects to invite high schools she’s worked with and make donations to them.

Drapeau’s Costumes of Maine is located at 20 Main St. in Lisbon.

dmoore@timesrecord.com