If Irvington is Indy’s own Halloweentown, then Monsterz Inc. is the giant pumpkin in the town square. Located in the heart of Irvington at 7 Johnson Ave., this spooky place is part venue, part bar and part costume shop of meticulously wicked proportions.
Monsterz Inc. is owned by self-taught artist Jess West, whose motto is “I can make anything.” She began designing her own costumes at 12 years old. “I watched Uma Thurman play Poison Ivy, and I was obsessed,” she said. West made her own Poison Ivy costume and has been doing that ever since.
Part of the learning process for West, now 42, involved cutting her clothes apart and sewing them back together. “All of the sculpting, casting and molding that I do, I learn from YouTube University,” she said. She started her business Jess West Costumes in 2010.
In 2024, West ended up in Los Angeles, as a contestant on the Hulu show “Dress My Tour.” There, she competed with other costume makers by designing stage outfits for musicians. She made it through six episodes and opened Monsterz Inc. soon after the same year.
More than a business woman, West is an artist. She has designed costumes for Miss Teen USA, musicians and Comic Con fans. She has also dabbled in set design.
Monsterz Inc. has a stage — located inside the giant jaws of a toothy monster. The space itself is two stories of living horror movies. Entire rooms are dedicated to “Frankenstein,” “Dracula” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” There are lifelike replicas of monsters and their lairs everywhere.
Although it’s spooky every day of the year at Monsterz Inc., West certainly maximizes during the month of October. Every single weekend is dedicated to an event or theme, culminating with a party on Halloween night.
The party is described on the website as “three floors of nothing but trouble.” Tickets start at $39.49, but there are VIP options for private rooms with a pool table and bottle service that sell for $1,500.
At Monsterz Inc., nothing goes to waste. Whether it’s a hallway dedicated to “Bride of Chucky” made from the wedding dresses of a closed bridal shop or repurposed cardboard to create the “Phantom of the Opera” organ pipes, West sees the potential in everything.
West poses for a portrait with her cat, Lydia, in a coffin. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Costumes and clothing created by West are for sale in her costume shop. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
West poses for a portrait on the DJ booth. Credit: Brett Phelps/Mirror Indy/CatchLight Local/Report for America 
Each room on the lower level has a unique theme. The rooms are for rent for the venue’s upcoming Halloween party. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
West wearing a one-of-a-kind Candyman costume she created this year for a client, seen in her workshop. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy 
Each room on the lower level has a unique theme. The rooms are for rent for the venue’s upcoming Halloween party. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy
She asks people to not throw away anything weird or “kooky.” “No matter how weird it is, we will find a home for it,” said West, waving her hand to show a hair-covered wall.
Asking her what her favorite costume to make is akin to asking a mother who her favorite child is. So she shared her favorite style instead. “I am known for something called a transformation costume. I start it as something big and scary and then I turn into something beautiful.”
Think Lydia Deetz in a red dress beneath the sandworm in “Beetlejuice” or a dainty Little Red Riding Hood popping out of the gory belly of a werewolf.
While the costumes are where West truly shines, at Monsterz Inc. you can also experience everything from burlesque shows and live music to yoga and craft nights. The shop hosts weekly “industry nights,” where people in the service industry can drop in and play euchre and darts, enjoy drink specials and hang out.
Sunday, though, is for creating. The day is devoted to making new monsters and encouraging people to come body-double, a technique widely used in the ADHD community where having another person around helps you focus on specific tasks.
“Bring in your crochet. Bring in your coloring book. We’ll set the tables, you can order drinks at the bar, we can watch scary movies, we can do whatever we want,” West said.
West said she sees herself as an art teacher. Eventually, she hopes that Monsterz Inc. will evolve to include an apprenticeship program where people can earn credits and learn skills they can apply to a degree or their own business.
“Everyone is welcome,” she said. “So many people tell me how at home and safe they feel at Monsterz. This is a place for people to find their inner child. I create armor here.”
Related
Written in the stars: Indy’s mystical scene is growing
From holistic startups to neighborhood psychic gatherings, local astro girlies are offering more than crystals and tarot readings.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Nicole Nimri is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach her at nicolenimri30@gmail.com.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
