LEWISTON – The future of Drapeau’s Costume Shop lies in the hands of new owners with a penchant for the past.

Denise LaCasse LaFlamme and Christine Scribner Cornish bought the 56-year-old costume shop from owner Venise Berube last week. Both women are fans of medieval ages, said Berube, and plan to expand the business by setting up tables at Renaissance fairs for costume and accessory rentals and sales.

“She declined to reveal the purchase price of the business.

She said the new owners also intend to keep the business on Lisbon Street, at least in the short term, and the name – with a slight twist. The company is now Drapeau’s Costumes of Maine. At 4,000 square feet of space and 3,500 costumes, it is the largest costume shop in Maine and serves theater groups across the state.

But there are some changes. LaFlamme and Cornish are dressing the shop’s windows with modern, posing rubber mannequins. And they’ve launched a Web site, www.costumesofmaine.com.

Berube said the two women have been learning the ropes for the past three weeks so they are ready to take over. Diane Meservier, who has been with the company for 30 years, plans to continue with the business one day a week.

“They’re really perfect,” said Berube of the new owners. “They have the background and the sewing skills.”

For Berube, the sale means she can head to Florida with her husband, Bob. It’s a move she’s been looking forward to for a while and the reason she wanted to sell the business in the first place.

But she’ll be back for a visit in late October.

“I told the new girls I’d help out at Halloween,” she said.

– Carol Coultas

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