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The vacant spot left by Bee-Gee Book Store in the Bowling Green Plaza across Wooster Street from Harshman-Anderson is scheduled to be filled by Halloween USA – a costume store.

Plaza owner Chris Campbell said the store will be a good edition to the plaza.

“Halloween USA was a good match for the spot,” Campbell said. “It is pretty catchy and has a lot of selection.”

Tom Baughman, district manager for Halloween USA, said everything in the store is for sale, nothing is for rent.

“We sell costumes for everyone from infants to adults,” Baughman said. “We also carry make-up, masks and decorations for yards and parties.”

Garet Prior, senior, dressed up for Halloween in a pretty unique getup last year, and had trouble finding everything he needed for his costume.

“I was Brian Boitano – a male figure skater – last year for Halloween,” Prior said. “I had to go to the Salvation Army to find a blouse, but it might have been easier to find one if there was a costume store in town.”

Jessica Schafer, senior, described Halloween as a “five day event in BG.”

She dressed up as Tinkerbell from “Peter Pan” last year, and said having Halloween USA in town will make it a lot easier to find a costume in fall 2005 without having to go out of Bowling Green to shop.

“I ordered my costume online last year, which is hard because you can’t try them on,” Schafer said. “I had to return mine because it didn’t fit.”

Ramona DiBenedetto, owner of DiBenedetto’s Pasta and Subs located next to Halloween USA, said she is excited about the vacancy being filled. Business has decreased for her since the Bee-Gee Book Store left, she said.

“DiBenedetto’s and Bee-Gee Books complimented each other,” DiBenedetto said. “Since people like to multitask, they would come to buy books and then come eat.”

DiBenedetto said she thinks Halloween USA will bring more foot traffic to the area, which will cause business to increase.

In November when Halloween USA moves out, DiBenedetto’s main concern is making sure the vacancy gets filled.

Campbell said there shouldn’t be a problem finding a tenant – they’ve heard from several businesses that want the spot.

Some of the possibilities include a computer store, a coffee shop, a karaoke bar, or even another bookstore.

“I would like to see something new and different move in next door,” DiBenedetto said. “I think the students would like something easily accessible, especially for the freshman who don’t have cars.”

The opening date for Halloween USA hasn’t been decided, but Baughman hopes it will be open by Sept. 30.

The store’s business hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

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