It is starting earlier than you might think — Spirit Christmas is already preparing to open 30 seasonal stores across the United States this holiday season. That is a big jump from last year, and many Christmas lovers are already waiting to know which towns will get one of these festive pop-ups. Let me walk you through what we know so far and where you might see one near you.
How many spirit christmas stores are opening in 2025?
Spirit Christmas is expanding in 2025 with 30 new locations across 13 states in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. This nearly quadruples its footprint compared to the pilot season in 2024.
This is more than just a few extra stores — it is a full-blown growth strategy that takes advantage of the festive season.
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Where will spirit christmas stores be located?
The new stores are mostly concentrated in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Delaware.
Here are some cities plus specific sites we know:
- In New Jersey, six locations
- Connecticut: Milford and Manchester are two confirmed spots.
- Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh (McKnight Rd), Bethel Park (Oxford Dr), Erie (Interchange Blvd), Whitehall (Whitehall Mall).
- Ohio: North Canton and Mentor are converting Spirit Halloween spots to Christmas stores.
- More broadly, many stores will take over former Spirit Halloween locations or vacant retail space (including former Christmas Tree Shops or former big box footprints).
So, if you live in or near any of those states, your chance of walking into a Spirit Christmas this year is much higher.
When do spirit christmas stores open?
Exact opening dates for all locations have not been published yet, but the pattern suggests the first stores will open in mid to late October, with the rest rolling out into early November.
One notable lead: a flagship store in Mays Landing, New Jersey, is expected to open earlier than the rest, setting the tone for how the experience might look.
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What will you find inside a spirit christmas store?
Spirit Christmas is not just a bunch of trees and lights — it’s a full holiday experience. Here is what you can expect:
- Holiday décor, inflatables, and yard accessories
- Apparel and themed clothing
- Gifts, stocking stuffers, and seasonal novelties
- Themed zones like “Peppermint Village”, gingerbread villages, and immersive décor displays
- Santa photo sessions and meet-and-greet opportunities, with free digital postcards offered in some stores
In many cases, existing Spirit Halloween stores will be transformed into the Christmas version — meaning they already have infrastructure, so the changeover is smoother.
Why is spirit christmas expanding so fast?
Retail analysts see a few reasons:
- Vacant retail space: Many malls or big box locations are empty or underused, offering opportunities for short-term leases in the holiday season.
- Holiday spending strength: Retailers know Americans spend a lot of money in Q4, so more holiday offerings may capture more of that consumer behavior.
- Testing a new seasonal vertical: Spirit already dominates in Halloween pop-ups – branching into Christmas allows them to extend their seasonal presence and remain relevant.
- Brand synergy: They can recycle seasonally, that is, turn Halloween stores into Christmas ones to reach more customers.
If Spirit is right, this might become a fixture — not just a one-year test.
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