Local Halloween shop has something for horror aficionados, fall enthusiasts

Melanie Lee, left, Michael Myers, center, and Miranda Johns are seen on the day of the grand opening of M and M's Lil Shop O' Horrors on Tuesday. The shop, located on West Liberty Street, sells a variety of Halloween costumes and decorations as well as fall and Thanksgiving items.

MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM

There is something for everyone at the new shop - not all merchandise is for horror aficionados.

MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Visitors wander through the shop Tuesday afternoon on West Liberty Street.

MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Skulls, fall decorations, costume accessories and more are available at the shop.

MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM

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If you're planning ahead for a Halloween costume this year, you may be able to find everything you need locally at M and M's Lil Shop O' Horrors, a newly opened pop-up Halloween shop on West Liberty Street.

Cousins Miranda Johns and Melanie Lee decided to open a Halloween shop in Sumter to make shopping for spooky or fall decorations much easier for others in the community. They both commented that traveling to another town to shop can be inconvenient.

The store officially opened on Tuesday with a few excited customers waiting outside the doors.

Johns said opening the shop is something she and her cousin have wanted to do for a long time, and this year seemed like the perfect time. Everything just fell into place, she said.

Johns and Lee said their love for all things spooky started when they were children.

"As a child, I loved the thrill of trick-or-treating," Lee said.

Lee and Johns also grew up watching horror movies together, and their interests in horror flicks can be seen in the variety of face masks they sell.

Their inventory also includes costumes for babies, children and adults; wall decorations; props; Halloween-themed party supplies; and jewelry. Costume themes range from classic horror movie icons such as Frankenstein and Dracula to much less scary characters such as The Joker from Batman and Pikachu.

"We love all things creepy and scary," Johns said.

However, Johns' and Lee's love of Halloween also connects with their love for the fall season.

"It's an exciting season," Johns said.

While half of the shop showcases everything Halloween, customers can find the other half of the shop filled with pleasant autumn and Thanksgiving decorations for the upcoming season. The goal was to bring everything "fall" into one place, Johns said.

Even though Halloween is Johns' and Lee's favorite season, both have said that they would also like to open a pop-up Christmas shop if they can.

M and M's Lil Shop O' Horrors is on West Liberty Street next to The Sumter Item building. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday.