Shoppers from across the country and even around the world usually flock to New Jersey to attend the annual grand opening of the season's first Spirit Halloween store. But not this year.
The seasonal retailer said it is canceling this year's event, usually held at its flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. Nearly 3,000 fans showed up for last year's Aug. 1 opening, eager to get a first look at the latest costumes, home decor and animatronics to celebrate the spooky Oct. 31 holiday. Spirit Halloween usually also has giveaways and hosts activities at the event, like face-painting for kids.
But in a sign of the times, the retailer on social media said its kickoff plans in Egg Harbor have been derailed by supply chain turmoil. The message didn't mention President Donald Trump's new tariffs on countries such as China, but chains that get goods from overseas are facing challenges sourcing them.
Spirit Halloween said it will forge ahead and roll out its stores nationally, despite scrapping the traditional kickoff event in the Garden State, where the company is based. Spirit Halloween plans to open about 1,500 temporary pop-up locations, on par with last year.
"Our teams have been working around the clock to bring back the ultimate Spirit Halloween experience," the retailer said. "Unfortunately, international disruptions and supply chain challenges have thrown a wrench in our opening plans. As a result, we are forced to cancel the Egg Harbor Township grand opening event — but we intend to bring this event back next year."
However, "Spirit Halloween is still very much alive, with over 1,500 stores on track to open," according to the company.
"We will begin opening stores in mid-August for another killer season," Spirit Halloween said.
Spirit Halloween bills itself as the largest Halloween retailer in North America, a player in an increasingly competitive retail sector. One of Spirit Halloween's direct competitors, Party City, has liquidated and shuttered its stores this year. But the growing group of chains vying for a big bite of Halloween sales now includes discounters such as Walmart and Target, e-commerce juggernaut Amazon, and even home improvement giants The Home Depot and Lowe's.
Spirit Halloween declined to comment to CoStar News beyond its social media post.
Seasonal pop-up shops like Spirit Halloween take short leases, about three months, on vacant retail space, allowing landlords to generate at least some revenue from those empty properties. For years, Party City opened up its own stand-alone pop-ups, Halloween City, but it didn't have any of them last year.