Costume Conversions for Halloween 2024

Happy Halloween, ghouls and goblins! Today, we’re making a return to the longest-standing tradition at HHR. Visiting some “costume conversions.” These are empty storefronts temporarily leased by seasonal stores and “dressed up” for Halloween. In the past, we’ve visited Spirit locations, Halloween City (part of Party City), and even a local retailer, Spookers. This year, however, we only have the big dog Spirit operating in Houston. Without further to do, let us start with…

The still-warm corpse of Sam Ash

This former music store at 9941 North Fwy, Houston, TX 77037, closed at the end of last summer. It originally opened in 1980 as part of the local chain Parker Music. The locally-owned chain supplied instruments, sheet music, audio supplies, and more for years before finally shuttering in 2012. In 2013, it would reopen under the name Hermes Music, another local-ish chain trying to expand out of the RGV area. Hermes operated the store until 2017 when national chain Sam Ash purchased it from them (Hermes has since retrenched into the RGV). Sam Ash ran the store until entering into bankruptcy in 2024 and shutting down locations by the end of the summer. Despite Sam Ash being a larger chain than either Hermes or Parker Music, Spirit represents the first non-family-owned retailer ever to use this space.

This ghost of Sears past awaits a new “Round”

Next, we move on to a familiar friend in a different location. Sears has been featured at least twice in 2022 and 2020, but both times this was the former Willowbrook store, which sat vacant this Halloween. Driving a bit further out, this is the former Deerbrook Mall Sears. Like any other mall named *-brook in the area, Sears opened, and the mall was built by Homart Malls, a company owned by Sears. The mall and anchor opened in 1984 and soldiered on for nearly 40 years before closing in 2020. For the past four years, the former anchor has sat mostly vacant. However, Japanese-based Round1 announced plans to open a new arcade in the former department store earlier this year.

The emaciated remains of Tuesday Morning

Finally, we come across a tiny Spirit tucked away into a corner of a strip center. Originally a Tuesday Morning, this store space at 9741 FM 1960, Humble, TX 77338, was very likely clawed out of another retailer when Tuesday Morning opened here in 2002 and made it 20 years before closing in 2022, likely in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy the following year. Closing before the rest of the chain, Tuesday Morning left very little behind, except for a pair of Radio Shack P.A. speakers on a pole, and some COVID tape signs. This was actually the first location I visited this year, and going in, I felt that the lack of an exterior sign was due to limited space, but I found this to be a trend this year. It seems that Spirit opted to go for non-traditional signage, using rented vans with banners attached by the roadside. This location was also relatively “wimpy,” with very few displays and employees encouraging anyone looking for specific items to visit other stores.

Overall, Spirit put on a good show this year. They made some odd choices with signage, but their presence was certainly felt throughout Houston. While I hope we see other Halloween seasonal chains pop back up, it’s unsurprising to see Spirit dominate within this category. Spirit has been discussing a Christmas concept store this year, and while they won’t be testing it outside of New England, it’s possible we may eventually see Spirit Christmas come to Texas. In the meantime, though, enjoy your Halloween and stay safe!

2 comments

  1. It is always interesting to see inside an old Sears when one of those Sears turns into a ‘Spears’. I’m really glad that the Sam Ash, along with Parker Music and Hermes Music, got a mention. Sam Ash was a lot like Guitar Center and it was nice to have both in town since sometimes one sold something that the other did not. Guitar Center has, and Sam Ash had, a large selection of wired headphones, mostly of the professional kind, and it is nice to be able to try those before buying them since all the online reviews in the world don’t mean much if the headphones don’t fit well or just don’t sound right to the listener. At least places like Guitar Center have testing stations for trying out stuff before buying. Now that Sam Ash is gone, Guitar Center is the place to go to buy that type of equipment.

  2. Thanks for the post! There’s also a Spirit Halloween near me at 10516 Old Katy Rd, Houston, TX 77043. You’d never see it if you weren’t looking for it. It’s in an old Tuesday Morning on the backside of a shopping center. Basically, it faces away from the freeway into the Home Dept parking lot and resides next to a gym for Stars Gymnastics. Anyway, maybe you knew about it and chose not to include but thought I’d comment.

    I went in with my kids on Friday evening and it was pretty crowded. Lots of temp walls and spooky displays. But they’re pretty efficient at what they do: stock tons of costumes and check people out quickly.

    Thanks!
    Eric B. in Spring Branch

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