Never too early for Halloween

Late summer can be a perfect time for back-to-school shopping or a

backyard barbecue. And though Labor Day is still in the future, some

businesses are already getting in gear for customers who like

trick-or-treating and jack-o’-lanterns.

The most visible sign that Halloween is almost around the corner

hangs at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa. Where drivers exiting the

Costa Mesa Freeway (55) used to see Niketown’s name, a banner now

bears the name of Halloween Express. The store will carry costumes

and other Halloween gear.

The store is scheduled to open Sept. 10 as a temporary replacement

for Niketown. The former athletic apparel store is set to remain a

spooky emporium until Nov. 1.

“It’ll be a huge store carrying everything from infant costumes to

[costumes for] adults and pets,” Halloween Express owner Sherri

Hudson said.

Last year, Hudson set up shop in Costa Mesa on 17th Street. This

year, Niketown’s absence made it possible for her to lease about

22,000 square feet at Triangle Square. She plans to play

Halloween-themed videos on about 12 television screens and to add

ambience with lighting and fog.

“It’s kind of a fun location where you can make it more exciting

-- not a haunted house, but more exciting than a box,” Hudson said.

Hudson’s store is not the only store already preparing to sell

masks, costumes and other Halloween goods. Another themed store,

Halloween Adventure, is scheduled to open Sept. 3 on Harbor Boulevard

near Gisler Avenue.

About 20 Halloween Adventure stores open in Southern California

each year, Halloween Adventure manager Jim McDevitt said. He said

people hired to manage individual shops receive three days of

classroom training and tend to be particularly enthusiastic about

Halloween.

“They understand makeup. They understand how you put on wigs,”

McDevitt said.

To McDevitt, August isn’t too early for retailers be getting ready

to advertise for Halloween. Retailers simply want potential customers

to know that stores will be open soon, he said.

At the Michaels Arts & Crafts store on Superior Avenue, summer

isn’t too early to be thinking about a later holiday. Behind red and

gold leaves used for autumn decorations, a stack of Christmas

wreathes are already on sale.

At Michaels, Halloween items arrive in July, store manager Shaun

Duncan said. Christmas gear goes on sale around this time of year.

And yes, each year, holiday goods seem to go on sale a little

earlier than the last.

“Every year, I guess the consumer wants to get started earlier,”

Duncan said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or at o7andrew.edwards@latimes.comf7.