LOCAL BUSINESS
Find your inner ‘freak’ at new downtown store
There is a local store that sells costumes but is so much more than just a costume store. Freaky Findz, located at 218 North LBJ Drive, is deceivingly massive, based on what can be seen from the outside, and is filled with horror collectors items, theatrical and special effects makeup as well as everyday beauty products, jewelry and Samurai swords in addition to their robust costume collection. The store is owned by Dean and Marta Gibson.
Freaky Findz is a downtown store that sells all of one’s costuming and collectible needs such as theater and special effects makeup, masks, Samarai swords, jewelry and horror collectible items. Above, Megan Klaus and Lilly Zahn hold up one of the store’s most popular collectible items — the Gremlins. Below, Lilly Zahn unsheaths one of the Samarai swords. Daily Record photos by Shannon West
Jessica Michelson, Freaky Findz sales associate, has been doing photography and cosplay for 15 years and loves that the store caters to the special effects crowd and has anything that one interested in cosplay could need.
“I worked a little bit in special effects at Sea World for the Howl-O-Scream,” said. “Then I went into the New Braunfels store and just fell in love with everything that Dean has to sell — makeup, special effects. I love doing cosplays, so it was right up my alley.”
Working at Freaky Findz was Sales Associate Lilly Zahn’s first retail job, but it’s been a great experience so far and has the spooky vibe that has been a major interest since childhood.
“I’m loving it. I’m really into beauty and makeup, and I’m getting into the special effects here and just having a fun time,” Zahn said. “As a kid, my mom hated anything spooky and scary and horror movies, so naturally, I was just drawn to it. … When I moved to Texas and the first time I walked into Freaky Findz, I fell in love with it. This is like Disneyland to me.”
Though Zahn did not personally have a hand in the addition of beauty products to the store’s offerings, it is a testament to the owner’s ability to meet the demands of the customers.
“That’s the thing that I love about Dean and working locally, if there’s a want for it, we’re going to do our best to provide that,” Zahn said.
Michelson added that the store tries to keep up with emerging trends such as collectibles for the new Sonic or Minecraft movie and anything else “that the kids might be interested in.”
Freaky Findz Sales Associate Megan Klaus feels like “the oddball” of the group, as she doesn’t have robust experience with special effects makeup or the horror genre in general, but she loves working retail and handles all of the San Marcos location’s social media needs.
“I have really personal connections to my customers, and it was nice to have a smaller business that I could work with and do visual designs,” she said. “We can actually make promises to our customers and keep them instead of just working for a corporate [company where] you say something, and it doesn’t necessarily get done; we can actually get things done. And it’s really nice.”
Check out the store, which is in the location of what used to be Paper Bear, or shop online at freakyfindz.com.
Above, Megan Klaus retrieves one of the masks that are lining the entire store. At right, the store also has all of your cuddly needs. Jessica Michelson shows off one of the store’s squishables. Daily Record photos by Shannon West
Above left, Megan Klaus presents a pair of witch costumes. Above right, Lilly Zahn holds up a Michael Meyers costume set. Below, left Jessica Michelson shows off the theatrical, special effects and beauty makeup section of the store. Below right, Below right, are some of the store’s jewelry offerings. Daily Record photos by Shannon West
