FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — As people continue to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, plans for the Halloween season are changing. Some may think twice when it comes to trick-or-treating, attending parties, and haunted houses.
Those concerns are why James McKee, one of the owners of Halloween Express of Cool Springs, decided to open later than usual.
"The biggest thing was placing our orders we normally do it around June or something like that but this year we waited until August," said McKee.
McKee says they weren't sure how sales would do this year because of COVID-19.
The National Retail Foundation predicted there would be some $8 billion in Halloween spending this year, a reduction of about 8 percent from last year.
McKee says sales have been surprisingly good. In fact, they are better than last year. He says they aren’t selling as many costumes, but more people are coming in to buy decorations.
McKee believes there's also an advantage to the popup shop only being open for 45 days.
"That way we set up, then tear down and don’t have to worry about rent all year round and worry about having to possibly close down things like that," said McKee.
