'Tis the season. Spirit Christmas stores are now opening. See locations.
Gabe HauariHalloween is in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving is the next major holiday on the calendar, however some folks are already looking ahead to Christmas.
If you like Christmas carols and holiday cookies more than pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving turkey, the good news is that major retailers have begun preparing their stores for the holidays. Spirit Halloween stores are now closing in favor of its Christmas-themed spin-off, Spirit Christmas.
Spencer Gifts, which owns Spirit Halloween, launched eight Spirit Christmas stores throughout the Northeast in 2024. The company is nearly quadrupling its footprint this year with 30 locations across 12 states in the Northeast and Great Lakes area, including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The flagship Spirit Christmas store opened in Mays Landing, New Jersey, on Oct. 17, Spencer Gifts spokesperson Marisa Simonson confirmed to Paste BN on Oct. 21. Simonson told Paste BN another handful of stores were set to open in late October, with the rest of the stores slated to open in early November after transitioning from Spirit Halloween stores.
Spencer Gifts spokesperson Mary Griswold confirmed to Paste BN on Nov. 4 that five of the 30 Spirit Christmas stores are currently open for business, with the remaining 25 locations set to open within the next week as the company works "diligently to transform each space from Spirit Halloween into a Spirit Christmas store." Spirit Halloween stores have closed for the season, Griswold confirmed.
Griswold also told Paste BN Spirit Christmas stores will remain open "through the end of the year to help guests celebrate the holiday season."
Here's what to know about when and where Spirit Christmas stores will open in 2025.
Where will Spirit Christmas locations open?
Thirty Spirit Christmas locations will open throughout the Northeast and Great Lakes region this year. Some locations will open in pre-existing Spirit Halloween stores, while others will be new locations.
For the most up-to-date information regarding exact store opening dates, customers are encouraged to use the store locator on Spirit Christmas' website.
Spirit Christmas stores will open in the following localities. (Note: The locations below in bold are the stores that are already open.)
- Manchester, CT
- Milford, CT
- Christiana, DE
- Bloomingdale, IL
- Joliet, IL
- Naperville, IL
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Merrillville, IN
- Lexington, KY
- Waldorf, MD
- North Attleborough, MA
- Dartmouth, MA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Novi, MI
- Salem, NH
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Lawrenceville, NJ
- Mays Landing, NJ
- Paramus, NJ
- Rockaway, NJ
- Toms River, NJ
- Amherst, NY
- Bohemia, NY
- Poughkeepsie, NY
- Mentor, OH
- North Canton, OH
- Bethel Park, PA
- Erie, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Whitehall, PA
Book Santa Claus photos now at some Spirit Christmas locations
Despite locations yet to be open, some Spirit Christmas stores are already booking photo opportunities with Santa Claus. Photo experiences begin on Nov. 21, according to a Spencer Gifts news release. Hours will be Fridays from 3-7 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., all local times.
Contributing: Greta Cross & Carlie Procell, Paste BN
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at Paste BN. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.