THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!

BOO, you dogs! 

I don't know if you dogs have figured out what you're going to dress as for Halloween.  Today, I'm leaning on becoming a Pit Bull (a natural for me, right?  You see how tough I look!)   My Lil' Sister - Gracie Ella Moss - she's planning on becoming the Wicked Witch of the East - again, she is a NATURAL for that, believe me!

Remember all those big-box stores around Chicago as recently as the last Christmas season?  Stores like Circuit City?  CompUSA?  Linens and Things?

They're all gone, you know.  Victims to a weak economy, and perhaps their own poor business models.

But, in their large, open, vacant retail spaces, this Halloween season and for the last several, huge, temporary stores geared specifically for the Scary Holiday have sprouted.  These stores have brightly lit - albeit temporary - signage.  Orange and black decorations.  And, often, large, attention getting inflatable monsters gracing their entrances, vying for attention from driving shoppers who pass by every day.

As reported last week in the Chicago Tribune by Robert Channick, several companies open about 60 Halloween stores each year across the Chicago area, often in retail spaces in shopping malls and strip centers made vacant by the recent economic bust.  They open each year just after Labor Day, and stay open until Halloween, with the biggest business days within 10 days of the holiday each year.  Despite the recession, the companies predict they'll gross over $5 Billion in sales this season.

Each of the Temporary Halloween Chains employ full-time professionals who spend their "off season" searching for desirable temporary locations for the holiday.  The typical rent for a big-box space - as much as $30,000 for the season for the most desirable and visible locations.

Beginning in late Summer, the chains hire an estimated 12,000 seasonal workers to man the stores.  They are very profitable, due to low overhead and little, if any, required store build-out.

Some retail landlords are hesitant to rent to stores seeking such a temporary lease arrangement.  With the soft economy, and higher-than-unusual vacancy levels, however, many have shown flexibility.  They now welcome these Temporaries which draw in traffic to the mall or center, feeding the other stores, and, of course, providing some set-off for the lost rent, not likely to permanently come back any time soon.

The next likely growth area for these seasonal retailers?  The Christmas Season!  Indeed, Toys R Us plans to introduce up to 240 Holiday Express Stores this holiday season, many in shopping malls where vacant storefronts abound.

Well, it looks like next Friday will be the day Gracie and I will stop in to pick out our costumes, in advance of Halloween, one week from Saturday.

And, please, if we knock on your door - no bad apples!  OK?

Trick or Treat!

Please read my post today via BlogChicagoHomes.com

YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,

BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO