Be very afraid: Halloween spending boosts Ann Arbor area costume shops
The economy might be scary, but spending on Halloween is far from it.
National spending on Halloween decorations, costumes and candy is expected to rise to $72.31 for the average consumer, up from $66.28 in 2010, for a total of $6.86 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.
That's good news for business owners like Bill Brennan, who owns Fantasy Attic on Cross Street in Ypsilanti.
Brennan was pleased to hear the report.
“Well that jives," he said. "We are up about 11 percent over this time last year."
Ypsilanti's Fantasy Attic on a busy Friday night in October. Owner Brennan says business has been up this year.
angela smith for annarbor.com
Brennan reports that sales have been down since Fantasy Attic moved from its Ann Arbor location to its Ypsilanti storefront. But he said that may be due to the economy rather than the move.
“I love the area and we love the building, and people who come in do as well," he said.
This year, Fantasy Attic has seen a trend towards nostalgic costumes. Among the popular costumes are Saved by the Bell and Al Bundy.
“People watched these shows as kids, and it brings back some nostalgia," Brennan said.
Brennan said he does dress up for Halloween, but he tends to select his costume from the heap of outfits that are left over after shoppers have had their pick.
“The worst I’ve worn — (PowerPuff girls villain) MoJo JoJo with a blue taffeta cape and a monkey hood," he said.
Halloween revelers also have a selection of franchised costume shops to choose from. These shops tend to appear in recently vacant strip mall locations just in time for Halloween shopping. Spirit and Halloween City, an off shoot of Party City, collectively operate three Ann Arbor area locations amongst the two of them.
Nationally, the Wall Street Journal reported that former Borders stores have served as space for Halloween stores — but in Washtenaw County, the three vacant Borders stores are empty this fall.
Angela Smith is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at angieannarbor@gmail.com
Comments
Genboy
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
It's "jibes."
tinkerbell
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
It's pretty sad that another headline says there is no money to operate the warming station this winter.
15crown00
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
dah! it is the right time of the year.
arborani
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Naaa . . . "Breaking Bad"'s Gus Fring (post-boom) is already the biggie this year. P.S. Way to politicize a children's holiday.
say it plain
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Lord @xmo, do AA.com comments have to look like the littany of anti-Obama drivel that the entire rest of the internets is littered with!? No cute little variations on Obama's name to add to the ridiculous notion that Obama is somehow single-handedly responsible for the downfall of America?!
xmo
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.
I think the scary costume this year would be President Obama, Look what he turn America into. Now That's Scary!