Seasonal Halloween Shop Coming To Empty Ocean County Store

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Summer may have barely begun, but for some people it's never too soon to think about Halloween. That's true in Toms River, where the first Spirit Halloween has announced its presence for the fall.

The company has posted a "We're hiring" sign in the window of the former Rite Aid at the corner of Route 166 and Route 37, announcing its intentions to open up this year. That Rite Aid has been closed since 2024 amid the pharmacy company's wave of store closings during its bankruptcy proceedings.

An opening date has not been announced for Spirit Halloween, which fills vacant storefronts under short-term leases each year. Last year, it took over the former Rite Aid farther east on Route 37 near Vaughn Avenue. It also filled a vacant pet store on Fischer Boulevard.

The Spirit Halloween website says "come back in August" for store locations, so others may be announced then.

Spirit Halloween carries everything from animatronics for your lawn to costumes for kids, adults, and even your feline and canine companions.

Because the Halloween store is a franchise with thousands of independently run locations across the country, there is no official company-wide "opening day." Each fall, the seasonal store brand secures short-term leases at vacant spaces, leasing from mid-July to early November.

With reporting by Alexis Tarrazi, Patch