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Dave Fletcher saw the writing on the wall when the regular hordes of Halloween costume hunters last month were a fraction of what they were three years ago.

After operating Chuckles Unlimited at 6130 1A Street S.W. for 15 years, Fletcher and his wife, Bernadette, had weathered the highs and lows of operating a small business, but had always continued to grow since they purchased the legendary Calgary costume and novelty shop, a staple business in Calgary for more than three decades.

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But after enduring three trying years, Fletcher said they have no choice but to pull the plug on the labour of love, with costs soaring, business waning and a future that is at best uncertain.

“It wasn’t the way we wanted to go,” said the 58-year-old, who took a flyer on the business when it was set to close its doors 15 years ago, mortgaging his house to secure the necessary capital.

“There was a lot of tears. There was a lot of discussion back and forth — my wife wanted to continue against all odds.