by A wave of holiday cheer is taking over several empty retail spaces across New England as “Spirit Christmas”, a new seasonal pop-up chain, prepares to open its doors in the coming weeks.
Much like its well-known spooky counterpart “Spirit Halloween,” this festive version is setting up shop in former Bed Bath & Beyond, Joann, and Christmas Tree Shops locations — breathing new life into shuttered storefronts just in time for the holidays.
Holiday Pop-Ups Set to Open Across the Region
According to company announcements, 30 Spirit Christmas stores will debut nationwide this season, with five of them slated for New England — including two in Massachusetts, one in New Hampshire, and two in Connecticut.
The temporary stores will offer holiday décor, gift items, and party supplies, including wreaths, string lights, inflatables, ornaments, Christmas sweaters, wrapping paper, and gift bags — everything shoppers might need to transform their homes into a winter wonderland.
“We’re excited to bring some extra sparkle and joy to communities this year by reimagining these beloved retail spaces for the holiday season,” a company spokesperson said.
Massachusetts Welcomes Back Holiday Spirit
In Massachusetts, Spirit Christmas will reopen in a former Christmas Tree Shops store at Faunce Corner Shopping Center in Dartmouth — a particularly fitting move, as Christmas Tree Shops was once a Cape Cod staple beloved by bargain hunters for over 50 years before declaring bankruptcy and closing in 2023.
Another location is opening at a former Bed Bath & Beyond in North Attleboro, off Route 1, turning the once-quiet retail space into a temporary hub for festive shopping.
Expanding into New Hampshire and Connecticut
Just across the border in Salem, New Hampshire, Spirit Christmas is setting up shop next to TJ Maxx on Cluff Crossing Road, offering a convenient stop for shoppers looking to stock up on holiday essentials.
In Connecticut, Spirit Christmas will occupy two former Joann Fabrics stores — one in Manchester and another in Milford. Joann, an 80-year-old fabric and crafts retailer, shuttered all of its locations earlier this year, citing “significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment.”
Breathing Life Back into Empty Retail Spaces
The move highlights a growing trend of seasonal pop-up retailers taking advantage of vacant big-box stores, which have become increasingly common amid ongoing shifts in the retail sector.
In Massachusetts alone, defunct stores have been repurposed in creative ways: Ollie’s Bargain Outlet moved into a closed Big Lots in Fitchburg, a former Bed Bath & Beyond in Danvers was transformed into a pickleball complex, and a supermarket that replaced another Bed Bath & Beyond in Framingham is already planning to close less than a year after opening.
By temporarily occupying these spaces, Spirit Christmas offers a win-win scenario — bringing seasonal jobs, holiday excitement, and renewed foot traffic to struggling shopping centers.
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The Magic of Pop-Up Retail
The rise of Spirit Christmas demonstrates how flexible, short-term retail concepts can thrive even as traditional brick-and-mortar chains struggle.
For many shoppers, these pop-ups have become part of the holiday experience — a nostalgic, once-a-year event that combines the excitement of discovery with the charm of the season.
As the holiday countdown begins, Spirit Christmas aims to make its mark as a new festive tradition, giving new life to empty storefronts and ensuring that, at least for now, the spirit of the season shines a little brighter in New England.
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