New owners, big plans for city's only costume shop

Monica Coleman and Rhonda Abend have taken on new roles - small business owners.

And that has come with closets full of kimonos, hoop skirts and saris.

"What we've been wanting to do is a portrait studio, which we're in the process of opening up," Coleman said Thursday at the 512 N. Curry St. shop.

The women bought out Revelations under the limited liability company Monrho Productions, which includes Coleman's mother, Peggy Clark, and mother-in-law, Mona Coleman. The team took over operations July 1. They hope to have the portrait studio open by the end of August.

"We've also wanted to do theme party planning using the costumes," she said. "It provided us with the perfect avenue to do what we wanted to do."

But the costumes weren't part of the original plan. Both of them love photography and started purchasing equipment for a dark room and portrait studio about two years ago, Abend said.

They wanted to do theatrical portraits, so they consulted with Revelations' former owner.

"We wanted to form a business that incorporated all the things we loved to do," Abend said. "Costumes weren't part of the plan but when we found out she was considering selling we jumped on it."

So far the women have invested about $90,000 into the business. Revelations has period and Renaissance costumes. They do custom orders and makeup and accessories for the costumes. Both women work full-time jobs outside the shop.

Coleman said she hopes they will be fully supported by the shop in a year.

Revelations is open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.