Teri Burge, a senior buyer at Evangeline’s Costume Mansion, restocks merchandise on Tuesday as the store announces its reopening after a June fire.
HECTOR AMEZCUA
hamezcua@sacbee.com
Deborah Chaussé, the owner of the historic Evangeline’s Costume Mansion in Old Sacramento, announced Tuesday morning the store will reopen after a disastrous fire shut down operations last year.
Last June, an early morning fire destroyed the first floor of Evangeline’s, Chaussé previously told The Sacramento Bee. It is housed housed in the historic Howard and House and Lady Adams building on 113 K St.
The store will reopen the weekend of June 27 and 28, according to a news release.
Erik Garcia, an employee with Evangeline’s Costume Mansion, cleans a marquee Tuesday as the store annouces its reopening after a fire last year. A grand opening will be held on June 27 and 28. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Evangeline’s is opening its second and third floor, Chaussé said. The first floor, which was “extensively damaged,” Chaussé previously said, is still under construction. When the first floor will reopen is still to be determined, she said.
The Sacramento Fire Department said at the time of the fire a “cold, dense smoke” creeped into the store, according to previous Bee reporting. The fire was “most likely” caused by an electrical issue, Chaussé previously said.
Chaussé said she’s grateful the mansion is able to reopen. She said it’s only possible because of the assistance of her friends, family, the restoration team and the store’s loyal fans.
“Everyone’s been just great to work with,” Chaussé said. “Our customers have been incredible, just really always wishing us a lot of goodwill and support and help.”
Chaussé called the nine-month closure challenging and compared it to the COVID-19 shutdown. She said it’s been a “learning experience.” She and her staff have spent time renting storage spaces and moving inventory.
Reconstruction continues Tuesday on the lower level of Evangeline’s Costume Mansion after a fire last June. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Evangeline’s has around 3,500 costumes, according to past Bee reporting. The woman-owned business has been passed down Chaussé’s family. Her mother, Dorothea Evangeline Chaussé, opened the store in 1974.
Now that the mansion is on track to open, she said customers should except to see “thousands of costumes” and more, come the store’s return.
“We’re thrilled,” Chaussé said. “We got all fresh paint. We refinished the floor, polished all the brass, and everything is sparkling and beautiful. We just can’t wait.”
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This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 4:28 PM.
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Emma Hall covers Sacramento County for The Sacramento Bee. Hall graduated from Sacramento State and Diablo Valley College. She is Blackfeet and Cherokee.