House of Humor reopens in ‘bootique’-style in Redwood City

“It’s been an adjustment, but honestly a lot of people are just happy we’re still here,” Greenbaum said. “Business is good. It feels good.”

The shop was closed from March until reopening Sept. 14, moving two doors down from its previous location to 729 El Camino Real.

Greenbaum’s father started the business nearly 40 years ago, and now it’s been hosted in three locations on the same block. He said staying nearby was intentional to keep close to the community that has shown the store so much support over the years.

“We looked at real estate all around the Bay Area, but we just kept coming back to the fact that this makes so much sense to be here,” Greenbaum said. “All the familiar faces, they’re all the reason we’re in business.”

The only year-round costume store is, notably, “not a Halloween store” and is rather a place where people can come to laugh and get excited about transforming into something else.

“There’s always a reason to come here,” Greenbaum said. “From Santa suits during Christmas, elaborate school productions, Bay to Breakers, people come in to go to a party, that’s the beauty. We’re working somewhere where everyone who comes in is in a good mood.”

Halloween is still undoubtedly a popular time for the story to be busy, Greenbaum said, and still fares well among competitions such as Spirit Halloween because the staff “is like a family” and the merchandise is high quality.

“What really separates us is our wigs,” Greenbaum said.

The move came relatively suddenly, after more than 30 years at the former larger location. As the lease came to its expiration, the landlord was seeking a significant amount of money for repairs and reimbursement of discounts provided during the pandemic.

“We were negotiating the lease, I had every expectation we were going to come to terms,” Greenbaum said. “When we didn’t, I did feel like it was the end. But we took a deep breath.”

After slashing prices to try to reduce inventory, Greenbaum and his staff took a month to pack everything away and reconfigure the storage space into what could be a functional storefront.

Greenbaum said there are more than 250 boxes filled with merchandise in a new storage space, and he’s bringing in new things every day. But the chaos is starting to settle down, and he is excited for the holiday season.

“The overwhelming part is when it’s busy because it’s a smaller space, but at least they’re coming,” Greenbaum said.

After months of stressful landlord disputes, moving and trying to make it clear that they are indeed open, Greenbaum is excited to invite people back in and keep the jokes coming.

“Instead of House of Humor, we’re the House of Humor ‘Bootique’” Greenbaum said.

The shop is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 729 El Camino Real in Redwood City.