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The basics:

• Spirit Halloween cancels 2025 flagship opening in Egg Harbor Township
• Company cites international disruptions, supply chain issues
• 1,500+ seasonal stores still planned to open nationwide in August
• Industry warns tariffs could severely impact Halloween, Christmas

Citing “international disruptions and supply chain challenges,” Spirit Halloween is cancelling the grand opening of its flagship pop-up in South Jersey.

In a May 22 social media post, the Egg Harbor Township-based specialty retailer said that while those factors “have thrown a wrench in our opening plans” it intends to bring the event back for 2026.

Each year, Spirit Halloween kicks off spooky season in early August with the launch of its seasonal storefront at Harbor Square Plaza in Egg Harbor. The celebration typically draws thousands of people eager to get a first look at new merchandise. It also offers attendees the chance to immerse themselves in the many interactive retail displays.

However, the company did confirm plans to open more than 1,500 stores for the 2025 season. Spirit Halloween said that its teams “have been working around the clock to bring back the ultimate Spirit Halloween experience.”

As the nation’s largest Halloween retailer, the Spencer Spirit Holdings Inc.-owned brand is considered the go-to place to buy costumes, decorations, props and accessories. In 2024, Spirit Halloween had a record-breaking 1,525 stores across the U.S. and Canada for the season.

“Spirit Halloween is still very much alive … We will begin opening stores in mid-August for another killer season,” the retailer said in its social media post. “The engines are on, and we’re full speed ahead. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.”

A spokesperson for Spirit Halloween declined to comment further to NJBIZ regarding the upcoming season.

A scary thought

Spirit Halloween’s notice comes as retailers across the U.S. prepare for the Trump administration’s baseline 10% tariff on imports to take effect July 9.

The U.S. and China recently declared a temporary truce over tariffs. Each agreed to roll the taxes back for a 90-day period starting May 14. Under the agreement, the U.S. will lower those tariffs from 145% to 30%, while China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods will drop to 10% from 125%.

The Halloween & Costume Association has warned that the import taxes could “cancel Halloween and cripple Christmas.”

According to the industry trade organization headquartered in Mount Laurel, U.S.-based costume and toy companies are sounding the alarm that tariffs on Chinese goods “could wipe out Halloween and severely disrupt Christmas unless urgent action is taken.”

Since production is already underway and orders locked in, HCA said “businesses are scrambling to find ways to get products into stores on time and at prices that families can afford.”

In a statement, HCA board member Robert Berman described it as “an existential moment for our industry.”

“Halloween isn’t like other holidays. If products don’t land on time or become too expensive for families, Halloween simply doesn’t happen. There is no backup plan,” said Berman, also president of Rasta Imposta/Imposta Costumes. The leading U.S. costume manufacturer is based in Runnemede.

No easy fix

Although HCA said the costume and toy sectors have “been actively working to diversify production for years,” shifting away from China “is a long-term project, not a quick fix.”

“We’ve been trying to reduce reliance on China for a while now. But these are complex supply chains built over decades. You can’t just flip a switch and move thousands of SKUs overnight. Setting up new factories, building trust, ensuring quality, finding capacity — that takes years, not months,” Berman stated.

We’ve been trying to reduce reliance on China for a while now. … [But you] can’t just flip a switch and move thousands of SKUs overnight.
– Robert Berman, Halloween & Costume Association

HCA said industry leaders are calling on the U.S. government to consider the seasonal nature of these categories before final decisions are made.

While they understand the political backdrop, the sectors say the unintended consequences could devastate businesses – especially small- and mid-sized ones – and leave consumers footing the bill, according to the association.

Berman went on to say, “We’re not asking for handouts. We’re asking for time, clarity, and a practical path forward. If these tariffs go through as planned, Halloween 2025 could be the one that never happened — and Christmas might not be far behind.”