Handmade horror masks drive local Halloween shop
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A portion of the mask offerings at Crypt Keepers Halloween Emporium. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
In the back room of a Center Line strip mall storefront, past rows of staring eyes and an animatronic gremlin, Dave Douglas pulls latex faces out of handmade plaster molds.
Why it matters: In a time of big-box closures and diminishing returns for local retail, Dave and Jaime Douglas are carving their paths as Metro Detroit's Halloween apparel experts, serving all ages of horror lovers.
State of play: The Douglases' Crypt Keepers Halloween Emporium stocks thousands of costumes, alongside weapons, props and decor — plus 400 masks with varying levels of creep factor.
How it works: Dave and local artisans make many of the masks, sculpting them out of blocks of Monster Clay. They create molds, pour latex and then lift the masks out to be painted. From there, masks sell for around $150.
- "I like taking something and making it into something that just makes somebody's day," Dave tells Axios.
Flashback: The business started in the Douglases' house 12 years ago. But it could be argued that Crypt Keepers originated long before that, with two vinyl werewolf masks purchased and worn by Dave's parents in 1976, the year he was born.
- Dave's personal collection once reached 180 masks, but now includes about 30.
- From a young age, he was fascinated by masks he perused at Lauer's Novelties, a now-closed shop in Roseville.
The intrigue: Still deep in the world of masks decades later, Dave says Crypt Keepers competes with Spirit Halloween and Amazon through originality and by offering deep ties to its community.
- Customers can watch masks get made through an open workshop window.
- "We just try to constantly change and make our own stuff so that we are relevant," Dave says.
Plus, Crypt Keepers stays open year-round, serving horror lovers with themed merchandise and selling ornaments, trees and decorations for the holiday season.
Zoom out: The Trump administration's increased tariffs on most Chinese goods are driving higher prices, inventory challenges and added stress for Halloween retailers, CNN recently reported.
- Dave says the shop still has good stock, but with fewer props than usual this year. It's tough, he says, that distributors are handing over the added costs to retailers like him.
The bottom line: Love for Halloween and the macabre is a crucial part of culture, Dave says. You can become a far-out entity for a day, taking a break from real-life stressors.
- "My favorite part of this whole thing is watching the [neighborhood] kids grow up."
Go deeper: Where to Halloween shop with Metro Detroit small businesses