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David MacAnally/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - A scary result of the recession is bringing something haunting to a strip mall near you.
This Halloween is a bust for some retailers and a boom for others. The down economy scared some businesses out of business and out of their retail spaces has pop-up Halloween stores ringing up business over their graves.
"There are stores in Castleton, in this area," said one shopper, Kristin.
Meanwhile, two teachers shopping for a costume Monday hoped to dig up bargains at 71st and Keystone.
"I live in Broad Ripple and we have a few down there. Castleton has a few up there, across the street, too," one of the men said.
Halloween stores can often get a good rental price on empty, but highly visible, retail space. Some costume suppliers make it easier for their retailers, too.
"They want to sell their products. They know you can't afford inventory. They'll give you the inventory. If you don't sell it, you can just give it back. That's an incentive for those people to open those holiday stores," said UIndy professor Matt Will.
"You wouldn't believe it was a hard economy based on what we're doing," said Libby, the manager of Black Widow Halloween Store at 80th and Keystone.
It's a trend haunting the country in almost every season. The Black Widow store and the one across the street were fireworks stores last summer.
"Luckily, we were able to get in here like we are and sell like we are," Libby said.
Halloween stores are also happy because the holiday falls on a Saturday this year. That should mean more adult parties and about three percent more.
But even Halloween stores have the frights. One manager said their store can't compete with the prices at big box stores. They also have another fear.
"Actually, the costume I will wear on Halloween, I ordered online," said one shopper.
