Bernie's House of Fun — Local services in Brownsville

Sooo, this was my experience I had yesterday.

I was passing through town & decided to take a random stroll, which is when I noticed Bernie’s shop. It looked about as hole in the wall as you could get, which I thought was super cool ! I’m SUPER into Halloween/scary spooky stuff so from the second I walked in I thought, “THIS PLACE IS AWESOME”. I was greeted upon arrival by this lady behind the register, she was very welcoming. I met the owner right after, we spoke briefly, he seemed nice enough. After looking around the store, I concluded that this was definitely going to be a store I’d come back to, especially since I have a fair amount of friends that are also into the horror movie genre. As I walked around the store I had a budget in my head of $20, which sucked cause it seemed like everything was tagged at $25 and up, besides a couple socks I saw. I took a gander at their collection of shirts which I was pretty sure I was about to buy. After asking the store owner how much the shirts cost, he told me they were $25, and even though that was still over my budget, I couldn’t leave without this very cool Swamp monster shirt. So I go to pay and the lady behind the register was being very polite and cordial, recommending a couple TV shows. I go to pay and she says my total is $33. Even with tax I thought, “that’s well over my budget, what gives?” So I tell her about how the owner had told me the shirts were $25. She asks him from across the store what the price is, he pauses for a bit, tells her it’s $30, to which I say, “you had just told me it was $25 remember?” He then tells her to give me a $5 discount. I stand there confused and feeling a little guilty (even though I shouldn’t since I was just trying to support a new shop) but I apologize to him for the inconvenience, he told me it’s okay but that the shirt was a $30 shirt, and then walked off. I wasn’t offended personally or anything, but I wasn’t so happy with my purchase because I felt like I was more of a bother than a help. I’ve always just had this rule when checking out new places which is to at least leave with one thing. I’m very big on supporting local businesses and artists, so it’s honestly a shame how I felt leaving the store. The vibe in an instant went from curious to awkward for me, and I just wanted to leave already. My final price was $28, still very well over my budget, but it is what it is, at least the shirt looks really cool! I just wish that hadn’t happened so I could’ve gone back eventually but now I don’t want to.

The reason I gave the shop 3 stars was because the aesthetic of the store was still really awesome, the collection of unique oddities was superb, and the lady’s customer service was appreciated, but I guess next time the prices should be on the shirts themselves rather than needing people to ask for the prices. Maybe I wasn’t thorough enough, but while rifling through the shirts I never saw any price tag. I wish the store and its employees luck, it’s honestly a...

Hark, I tell thee, this emporium is the finest haunt for All Hallows' Eve that e'er I did behold!

The wares they stock are splendid and of quality, and those who serve thee are of a most friendly disposition. Shouldst thou seek a specific charm or costume, feel free to inquire and ask, for perchance they may procure it for thy needs. Moreover, they keep their doors open, for the most part, throughout the circling year!

Now list to this marvel: the very owners are gentlemen and ladies of great kindness. They do entice actors of famed renown in the horror trade to grace their threshold! Those who play the fiends of Terrifier, Ghost Face, and Jeepers Creepers are but a few of the notable guests they host.

Therefore, if fortune finds thee near this place, I urge thee, step within and witness the wonders that...

The owner and his family are amazing people, they have a vision of a store that is less about pumping out hundreds of the same costume and more about individuality. They want to offer staples for the Halloween communities, but at the same time still offer variety the masks that they have. There are of excellent quality and going there from time to time you'll always see a new inventory. I spent an entire hour in the store just looking at all of the products that they have to offer and I feel like there is more of a personalized environment here then at any other Halloween store that I've ever visited. I really can't wait to see what's in store for these people and their business and I wish them nothing...