Each summer, thousands of Halloween lovers descend on Egg Harbor Township (EHT) to celebrate the grand opening of Spirit Halloween’s flagship store. The event is a festive tradition, often held at the end of July or early August, where fans line up for hours to be among the first to access exclusive animatronics, costumes and swag.
However, in 2025, the annual kickoff will be missing from the calendar, marking a rare pause in the seasonal spectacle. Spirit Halloween announced via social media that this year’s grand opening at its flagship location has been canceled.
“International disruptions and supply chain challenges have thrown a wrench in our opening plans,” the company said. “As a result, we are forced to cancel the Egg Harbor Township grand opening event — but we intend to bring the event back next year.”
The flagship store is located in the Harbor Square shopping center on the Black Horse Pike, a site that has become a pilgrimage spot for Halloween enthusiasts. In previous years, over 1,500 people would gather under the hot August sun, eager for giveaways, first access to the latest merchandise, carnival games, food trucks and more. Visitors have come from across the country and even Canada, planning vacations around the event and filling local hotels.
The annual opening had grown so popular that people would set up lawn chairs and tents in the parking lot up to two days in advance, but local police eventually had to prohibit camping due to the increasing crowds. Last year’s opening drew fans braving 90-degree heat for a chance to snag limited-edition merchandise and experience the start of the spooky season in style.
Spirit Halloween first opened in California in 1983. In 1999, Spencer Gifts acquired the brand and moved its headquarters to EHT. Since then, Spirit has grown into the nation’s largest seasonal Halloween retailer, operating more than 1,500 pop-up locations across the U.S. and Canada each fall.
Despite the setback at the flagship location, Spirit remains committed to the 2025 Halloween season. The company affirmed that all other Spirit stores are still on track to open beginning in mid-August.
“The engines are on, and we’re full speed ahead. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come,” Spirit said.
The cancellation of the flagship event reflects broader challenges facing the Halloween industry. The Mt. Laurel-based Halloween & Costume Association (HCA) told Patch.com that tariffs and overreliance on Chinese imports could significantly disrupt the Halloween retail season. Proposed tariffs have been paused for 90 days as of mid-May 2025, but the uncertainty remains.
“This is an existential moment for our industry,” said Robert Berman, HCA board member and president of Rasta Imposta/Imposta Costumes, told Patch.com. “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.”
Even without the flagship celebration, Spirit Halloween remains a beloved tradition for many, symbolizing the start of fall and all things spooky. For EHT, the absence of the kickoff event is a notable shift, but one that fans hope will be short-lived.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
