fortnite bear costume
Instead of having a year-round location, many seasonal stores have opted to fall in line with a recent retail trend of offering pop-up stores during the height of their demand.
Spirit Halloween, a corporate Halloween store based in New Jersey, has opened three locations in Mishawaka, South Bend and Plymouth. The stores fill vacant big box store buildings. The South Bend location at 290 E. Ireland Road in Erskine Plaza fills 9,000 of the 12,000 square feet of the former Bed Bath and Beyond store with this year’s popular costumes.
Lyndsay Warren, the area district sales manager for the stores, said the company looks for buildings that are large enough to hold the merchandise while also having a location that customers are familiar with.
“We definitely want a place that has the visibility and the traffic that is coming to us,” Warren said. “We are looking for a place that has the square footage that allows us to put in as much merchandise as possible.”
Local magic and costume store Fun F/X also has opted for the seasonal pop-up. Last year, owner Victor Cao closed the permanent retail location at Wilshire Plaza in Mishawaka to focus on the online store.
However, Cao noticed there was still a year-round need for costumes and makeup for theater and school projects. So, he thought, he would transform his storage building at 1000 W. Sample St. into a showroom.
“Our direction changed from online to trying to remodel our old factory warehouse and create our showroom there,” he said.
Cao plans to transform the former Wilson Brothers Shirt Factory, allowing customers to have a year-round costume option. However, the location won’t be ready for another year.
In the meantime, Cao has opened a temporary store at 5505 Grape Road in Mishawaka next to Strikes and Spares. Depending on its popularity, Cao said, he is also considering opening the pop-up seasonal store in Mishawaka in addition to the main showroom on South Bend’s westside.
In terms of what is popular this year, both Warren and Cao say customers are opting for scary clowns, blow-up dinosaurs, “Hocus Pocus” characters and the most popular costume of all — the Fortnite Cuddle Team Leader, a pink bear onesie that is actually quite comfy.
“We are taking trends that are popular throughout the year and creating a costume out of that,” Warren said. “Basically anything that is on trend, we have.”
Stacked Pickle switches gears and goals
What was originally planned to be a corporate-owned sports bar and restaurant in downtown Mishawaka has changed its business plans and that could affect its location.
Stacked Pickle, a sports bar and restaurant with nearly a dozen locations across the state, originally planned to open a corporate-owned joint at the new Mill at Ironworks Plaza development in downtown Mishawaka. The company, though, has decided to switch gears and is now looking for a partner interested in franchising.
“We want to partner with a franchisee who will touch the business on a daily basis,” said Gary Brackett, the business owner and former middle linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts.
Brackett said the future of the Mishawaka location now hinges on where the new franchise partner would like to place the business. That means if a franchisee wants the sports bar to be somewhere other than the once-planned downtown Mishawaka location, then it will be in a different location.
But nothing is set in stone. The company is currently searching to find the right partner to jump-start the sports bar and restaurant in the Michiana area.
“I definitely think the (local) market can hold two or three stores and even have one in Elkhart,” Brackett said. “Those would be great locations for our brand, so in lieu of going in as a corporate store, a franchisee can help build our presence in that area.”
Those interested in becoming part of the franchise can visit Stacked Pickle’s franchise website at buildthepickle.com or call 720-316-6625 for more information.
Have you heard?
Javier’s Bistro, at 2007 Miami St. in South Bend, announced on social media that it will close Nov. 25 until further notice. The restaurant said it is for the winter season. … According to representatives at NAI Cressy, O’Reilly Auto Parts purchased a 1.6 acre lot on U.S. 6 and South Oakland Avenue in Nappanee. … A residential real estate company recently bought a former dentist office located at 2812 S. 11th St. in Niles and plans to turn it into a real estate office. … A Hardee’s will soon be built in Michigan City. CKE Restaurants Holdings, its parent company, said construction has not yet begun at the Franklin and Village streets location, but the company is hopeful the new restaurant will open in early 2019.
What: Fun F/X
Where: 5505 Grape Road, Mishawaka
Hours:
- Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.
What: Spirit Halloween
Where:
- 1290 E. Ireland Road, South Bend
- 6011 N. Grape Road, Mishawaka
- 500 Pilgrim Lane, Suite 110, Plymouth
Hours:
- Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.