What Spirit Halloween Opening in Your Neighborhood Means for Property Values

The arrival of fall also means the arrival, in many places, of a Spirit Halloween store. The pop-up retailer that specializes in costumes, decorations, and party supplies for spooky season is almost ubiquitous during September and October, with over 1,500 seasonal locations in shopping centers and strip malls across North America. The brand’s ability to set up shop quickly and then disappear in November is the stuff of legend. But the temporary nature of a Spirit—and the way they tend to inhabit big, empty storefronts—can leave people with mixed feeling.Some might look at Spirit taking over a former Party City as the work of an involved landlord, seeking to keep foot traffic up until another long-term lease is signed. Others might worry that a Spirit is a last-ditch effort to squeeze a few bucks out of a dying area. And either direction could be a sign of things to come for the broader market and your home directly.There’s no definitive answer to that uncertainty here. Experts say it comes down to the broader context of the area, rather than just the Spirit itself. How did Spirit Halloween get here?Spirit Halloween has been offering its pop-up retail experience since 1983. The hear...