Halloween Stores Pop Up In Old Retail Haunts

MAE ANDERSON

NEW YORK (AP) — The recession hasn't been so scary for Halloween stores. In fact, they're finding better haunts in the graveyards of failed retailers.

The seasonal sellers are taking advantage of the spate of retail bankruptcies and closings to open more — and larger — temporary stores this year in better locations. It adds up to an aggressive bid to capture cautious consumers' dollars in an industry that has grown rapidly over the past decade.

Spirit Halloween has raised 83 former Circuit City stores from the dead, part of the 100 stores it has added to the 625 it had last year.

Other smaller competitors are also taking bigger bites this year: Halloween Express, based in Owenton, Ky., and Halloween Adventure, based in Garnet Valley, Pa., have each added about 10 new stores this year.

Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year — the best day according to those in the industry since more adults throw parties — retailers are hoping for brisk business.

Despite the recession, market research firm IBISWorld Inc. expects 2009 sales for costumes and decor to rise 3 percent to $3.8 billion this year compared with a year ago. Halloween Adventure CEO Joe Purifico confirmed sales were "trending up" as the company headed into the important two-week stretch before Halloween.