Spirit Halloween brings vacant storefronts back from the dead
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The Spirit store in Metairie still has the throwback Kmart signs at the entrance. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
Spirit Halloween has three locations in metro New Orleans this year.
Why it matters: Spirit's seasonal takeover gives vacant retail space a brief second life.
The big picture: Spirit, which bills itself as North America's largest Halloween retailer, relies on temporary leases to transform vacant storefronts into seasonal shops.
- The arrangements bring property owners exposure and a few months of rent while they search for long-term tenants.
- Spirit has 1,500 locations nationally this year.
Zoom in: Locally, Spirit is operating in the old Kmart on Veterans in Metairie.
- It's also in former Party City locations on Clearview Parkway and on the Westbank Expressway in Harvey.
By the numbers: Of the locations Axios analyzed nationwide, 153 were labeled former Joann stores in Spirit's locator.
- Joann closed all of its fabric and craft stores in 2025.
- Former Big Lots stores ranked second with 103 locations, followed by Party City with 100. Both chains shed hundreds of locations after bankruptcy.
Zoom out: New Orleanians have plenty of costume-shopping options locally.
- Some favorites are She Comes in Peace, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, Fifi Mahoney's and Road Kill. More spots.