Amanda 'Ravange' Tuttle is opening a Halloween shop on Sept. 14 in Seymour.
SEYMOUR – Something “spooktacular” is coming to downtown Seymour!
The owners of Halloween Dungeon, a year-round Halloween store that will offer masks, costumes, and décor, are scheduled to hold a grand opening at 10:31 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 14) at 151 Main St.
(10:31 a.m. = Oct. 31!)
The store is owned by Seymour residents “Amanda Ravange” (stage name, real name Amanda Tuttle) and her husband, Alex Tuttle. They’re diehard fans of all things macabre.
“I always joked that I loved Halloween since I was born,” Ravange said. “Not only did I trick or treat every year, but on multiple days throughout the year growing up, I wore costumes.”
The store will stock masks, costumes, make up, props, along with specialty and handmade items. They’re also planning to offer some special FX make-up classes, as well.
Halloween is big business. The National Retail Federation estimated that spending on the holiday was expected to hit $12.2 billion in 2023. That includes $3.9 billion on decorations and $3.6 billion on candy.
“Per person spending is also up as consumers plan to spend a record $108.24 each, up from the previous record of $102.74 in 2021. The greatest increase in spending came from costumes, which are more popular than ever,” according to a press release from the organization.
Ravange has been working in the haunted attraction industry (haunted hayrides and the like) since 2008. That side of the Halloween industry is growing, too. The number of attractions has doubled since the 1990s, according to reporting published by The Hustle, a marketing and business website.
Ravange said she’s worked for Spooky World Presents: Nightmare New England in New Hampshire, Trail of Terror in Wallingford, and Legends of Fear in Shelton. In those productions, she did everything from acting to set design.
Tuttle, 28, also grew up loving Halloween, but he preferred building things, learning from his dad, a carpenter. He went to the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University, then worked alongside the owner of the former Amity Road Horror, helping to design and build sets. The couple also worked at Ghoulie Manor in Massachusetts, where Ravange acted and Tuttle did video work.
Together the couple own their own production company, Doom Haus Creative Studios.
“This is pretty much our livelihood, doing scenic design for haunted attractions,” Ravange said. “And as a team, Alex and I wanted to bring an experience to downtown Seymour that’s more than a store, but a destination. Hopefully, visiting our store will become a tradition for people, where they can have a truly immersive experience.”
Halloween Dungeon is opening in a 1,400-square-foot space on Main Street that was previously home to the Greenwich Workshop art gallery.
“When you step inside, you can expect a fun and spooky atmosphere,” Ravange said. “There will be some special FX happening, a cemetery, creepy old buildings and Halloween items around every corner.”
Halloween Dungeon’s location next door to The Strand Theater is also a plus for the couple. The theater is known for its regular gathering of weirdos from CT Cult Classics to watch movies such as “Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Part II” and “The Devil’s Rejects.”
During the grand opening Saturday (Sept. 14), Ravange said the first 13 ghouls to enter will be treated to a specialty gift. There will also be live monsters, goblins, and other creepy creatures on hand to pose for photo opps.
“We love Halloween and it’s fun to scare people,” Ravange said. “But we do it in a fun and safe way.”
For more information visit Halloween Dungeon on Facebook.
