Listen to this articleSpirit Christmas, a holiday-themed spinoff of Spirit Halloween, is kicking off the season early with the launch of its flagship location in South Jersey.
Spencer Spirit Holdings Inc. debuted the Christmas-themed pop-up at a handful of locations across the region in 2024. This year, the Egg Harbor Township-based company plans to quadruple the concept’s footprint to 30 spots.
Along with a vast assortment of holiday décor, apparel, inflatables, gifts and stocking stuffers, Spirit Christmas includes an immersive in-store peppermint village experience.
Spirit Christmas is also working with Cherry Hill Programs, an industry-leader in experiential holiday and souvenir photography, to offer interactive free meet-and-greets and paid photo sessions with Santa Claus.
Ahead of the Oct. 17 grand opening of Spirit Christmas in Mays Landing, the store welcomed at least 100 guests for a first look at the exclusive animatronics, dazzling décor and themed displays, a spokesperson said.
Besides Mays Landing, Spirit Christmas expects to open in Cherry Hill, Lawrenceville, Paramus, Rockaway and Toms River.
Outside of New Jersey, the company’s plans include:
- Two locations in Connecticut Milford, Manchester
- One location in Delaware Christiana
- Three locations in Illinois Bloomingdale, Joliet, Naperville
- Two locations in Indiana Fort Wayne, Merrillville
- One location in Kentucky Lexington
- One location in Maryland Waldorf
- Two locations in Massachusetts North Attleborough, Dartmouth
- Two locations in Michigan Grand Rapids, Novi
- One location in New Hampshire Salem
- Three locations in New York Amherst, Bohemia and Poughkeepsie
- Two locations in Ohio Mentor, North Canton
- Four locations in Pennsylvania Bethel Park, Erie, Pittsburgh and Whitehall
A spokesperson told NJBIZ that a handful of stores will open in late October and the rest will open in early November, after transitioning from Spirit Halloween stores. She encouraged guests to use Spirit Christmas’ store locator tool online to find up-to-date information on openings.
The ramp-up comes as Spencer prepares to wind down the more than 1,500 Spirit Halloween stores it launched nationwide this spooky season.
In a statement announcing the return of Spirit Christmas for 2025, company CEO Steven Silverstein said, “At Spirit, we believe the magic of the season does not end with Halloween – it transforms. Back by popular demand and with even more locations, Spirit Christmas is an extension of our sensory-rich, interactive holiday experiences.”
He added, “We’re thrilled to welcome guests back for another unforgettable season of magic and fun.”
