'A phoenix rising from the ashes’: Evangeline’s costume shop reopens in Old Sacramento
After a devastating fire that forced its closure for nearly a year, Evangeline’s Costume Mansion in Old Sacramento is back in business.
Owner Deborah Chaussé opened the doors Friday morning to the store that was passed down by her mother, Dorothea Evangeline Chaussé, the costume and novelty shop’s namesake. Located in the Howard House and Lady Adams building at 113 K St., Evangeline’s has thousands of costumes in its inventory.
The June 2025 fire caused extensive damage to the first floor Chaussé told The Sacramento Bee. She said the fire had probably been caused by electrical issues.
Evangeline’s has been a core part of Chaussé’s life since 1985, when she took over the business after her mother retired. The business celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.
The night of the fire, Chaussé told The Bee she arrived at the business at 1:30 a.m. to see fire trucks lining the street.
In the fire’s aftermath, Chaussé said there was huge support from the community.
“The outpouring on social media from the time of our fire has just been tremendous,” Chaussé said. “So many people have wished us well and express their sorrow about the event, the fire and the difficulty.”
As Chaussé greeted dozens of friends and community members, one word came to mind to describe the day—terrific. She said the re-opening wouldn’t have been possible without the backing of the Sacramento community.
“All the good wishes daily have helped us stay motivated and keep thinking about the future,” she said.
The reopening was celebrated by Sacramento city leaders, including Mayor Kevin McCarty who described Evangeline’s as “literally a phoenix rising from the ashes.”
“I remember coming here when I was a youngster, and now I have teenagers, and they love cruising around here and checking it out too,” McCarty said. “We’re pleased that you did not give up, and you decided to come back bigger and better.”
Ty Smith, the city’s official historian, said the re-opening of Evangeline’s is symbolic of the life of the historic building, where Evangeline’s is housed.
In 1852, the building survived the “great conflagration,” a fire that burned more than 80% of the structures in the city, according to the Sacramento History Museum.
“The building that you’re in is a survivor too...” Smith said. “It survived near calamity, and of course, (Evangeline’s) has risen from that.”
The second and third stories are open to visitors, while the first floor housing the gift shop remains closed. It will reopen in three months, Chaussé said.
