Don’s Hobby Shop

The staff was very helpful and took the time needed to explain and answers any questions.

I have yet to actually enter their seemingly much larger location up on center street (and am very interested to do so if I’m ever in the area with time to kill) but this one left me a little underwhelmed.
First, it should be noted I was in early on a Thursday afternoon, killing time before a tattoo appointment a couple doors down so my first issue — the complete lack of any sort of staff attendance — is probably explainable in that regard. There was one lone girl working when I was there and she didn’t seem to notice there was anybody there for a good 20 minutes. It wasn’t until she had a phone call asking about stock on a particular item that sent her down the isle I was in that she asked if I needed help finding anything. Not a huge deal because I didn’t (again, this was mostly a ‘stalling for time’ kind of trip) but something I might have found rather annoying had I been shopping more earnestly.
They did have a few pretty cool items — from a series of touqes designed to look like the headpieces of several Avengers characters, to Darth Vader helmets, to probably the most realistic Power Ranger costumes I’ve ever seen that almost made 8 year old me come bursting back to the surface and want to pilot a giant robotic dinosaur to fight a dog-​faced thing in gold armor. Essentially, my inner geek could have dropped a couple hundred bucks here, easily.
Sadly, the selection was pretty scant. Hence my curiosity to check out the bigger store, and I’m sure it gets better closer to halloween and whatnot… but it seemed like I’d find one cool costume related to a certain geekdom or genre and wonder as to what a related one might look like only to find that the sole one i discovered was all they had, and even THEN most of the coolest ones things were only available in kids sizes so (even though I wouldn’t have bought them) it sort of killed the imagined appeal.
Win of the day: a life sized, rather sweet looking (thin plastic, but you’d never know it to look at it from the correct side) Captain America shield that will look awesome mounted on my ‘geek wall’. They may be trying to please too many demographics with too few products… but dammit, on some level, they still get me.

Very helpful staff, a great place to go for stage/​costume makeup

This is my favourite costume store in Calgary. Everyone is friendly and so helpful and the price is really reasonable compared to buying costumes online. There’s really isn’t a reason to shop online when you could just go to Don’s because sizing is a major problem when it comes to buying costumes and they let you try it on there.

I have been to Don’s a few times and during my visit today I was reminded of how awesome the staff are, as well as the selection of costumes, accessories, etc. I scored myself a sweet wig for an upcoming party and the woman who helped me tore open every bag I asked her to in order to try them on and find exactly what I was looking for.
How can you go wrong with great service, decent prices and free parking? I’m thankful I was the only customer for the moment because Don’s can be a zoo, but that just tells you it’s a great store.

If your hobby is to dress up like a Kiss band member, firstly I say «strange, but I like your style», and secondly, I’d say that you should get down to Don’s Hobby Shop, cuz they just got a new shipment in. (Gene Simmons’ freakishly long tongue not included — sorry ladies).
Never mind that, though.
Besides the Kiss outfits, they have thousands of other costumes for kids, adults, and plus sized alike. They also have all the wigs, masks, makeup, and props you might need to complete your look.
In addition to all the costumes and accessories, Don’s also has a wide selection of magic supplies for any aspiring magicians out there. As well, everything you could ever want, or need, to become an accomplished juggler is on hand.
All in all, Don’s Hobby Shop is just dandy.

My friend’s husband was about to do some missionary work abroad as Captain Canada. Complete with a Canadian flag cape and Canadian flag face. Because of my work in theatre what work I have done with children they called on me to help them with the make-​up part.
Finding good theatrical makeup is difficult in Calgary, I mean you have many options for economical face painting supplies but what I was looking for was a professional oil based paint called Ben Nye. After making several phone calls, and upon recommendations of several costumes stores, the only place that I could find it was at Don’s Hobby on Centre Street.
Don’s Hobby boasts 14,000 products from costumes, balloons, and juggling to unicycles.
Ben Nye makeup is the best; I have used it myself in many productions. The best part of is how it does not affect your skin. If you are doing 2 shows a day for 6 months you are going to wear a lot of makeup, this one stint found me in this position and never once did my face react to the BN product.
DH offers tons of Ben Nye options, crèmes, mattes, foundations, concealer, glitter, eye shadow and lip stuff. For advanced makeup applications there are also prosthetic effects, nose and scar wax and my personal favourite blood effects. Moo Ha Ha. Prices at DH are appropriate prices for Ben Nye. You are paying for the best in stage make-​up so expect to pay a little higher than normal.
But I just needed some standard face painting stuff so I was able to walk away with my two colours of red and white for 7.95 each. Not bad.
Check out Don’s for that special or not so special theatrical presentation.

To be up front, this review is more story than review. You see, my visit to Don’s had absolutely nothing to do with Halloween (although it was around that time last year). I was shopping for a proposal!
I have a fairly diverse background, stemming from my days in high school. I was actively involved in choir, drama and improv, in addition to being the computer club and playing hockey. It’s the drama background that convinced me years ago that whoever I proposed to would get something special.
Just in case you have better things to do, I’ll start with my trip to Don’s. For my plan, it was vital that I change my appearance. I sat down with someone at Don’s and explained my needs; facial hair, different skin and different hair. She was extremely helpful in assisting me select the right stuff (goatee, makeup to adjust my shade, fake skin defects, wig, and naturally, teeth with braces). She even explained how everything should be applied and removed. Very important for someone who has never had to apply their own makeup (drama remember, we had girls who would do that).
One thing I did notice outside of the reason for being there is the selection of costumes and accessories they have. My fiancé & I were there again yesterday and the selection is still great, even a few days prior to Halloween, and the prices are pretty good (certainly not the cheapest you can find).
Back to my story. I had arranged with my fiancé’s employers to send her to a fake conference in Banff. Of course, I went to great lengths to ensure this didn’t look fake at all, including a real and fully functional website and toll-​free number. Additionally, the hotel in Banff was in on it all the way. They even let me pretend to be a hotel employee so I could help my fiancé to her room, at which point the proposal happened. Did she suspect anything? Unfortunately, the shirt provided by the hotel was short sleeved, so my arms gave me away a bit. However, my fiancé knew I was in Edmonton on business, so she dismissed it as being coincidence while in the elevator. A success, to say the least!

Don’s is a first-​rate costume shop for this time of year, complete with a staff that know their stuff. It was crazy busy for them, but the woman at the make-​up/​special effects counter offered some pretty good advice and although she was busy and talking fast, made time to ensure everyone got what they needed along with a few pointers.
Plus, these guys have a wide selection of costumes. Everything from fairies to Michael Myers. They also carry those creepy Eyes Wide Shut masks in case you get invited to an orgy some night and find yourself under-​dressed.
The only problem I can think of is the fact that Don’s is closed on Sundays, even the Sunday before Halloween. That’s not convenient, but they are open until 9 pm every weeknight until the end of October.
Anyway, great staff and great special effects and costumes…