Spirit: Halloween Store – Austin Arbor Walk

Dear Halloween Superstore: If you tell me that I can’t even take costumes out of the bag to examine them, I *will* take my business across the street to your competitor.
Sincerely, Not a Shoplifter

Horrible experience! We were checking out and I had a second thought on a wig that I was about to buy but we were in a hurry so I went ahead and purchased it BECAUSE the CASHIER informed me that I could return it later. Came back to return it and was told that they don’t do returns. I found the cashier who assured me that I could return my purchase. He admitted that he told me that I could return it. His manager then told him that they don’t do returns and his story immediately changed to «Ohhhh ya I don’t think I said they could return it now that I think of it.» The manager allows me to make and exchange but I was infuriated due to the fact that the cashier who I believe his name was Corey basically called me a liar and the manager allowed it. The fact that I was «allowed» to exchange the wig was basically pointless bc I already purchased everything I needed in my first visit. This place is a joke! Go somewhere with better customer service and saw ur time!

Love Spirit Halloween. Picked up my catsuit for my Black Widow costume from their store & my bf bought his Hawkeye outfit off their website. They are so much fun to go walk around in because they always have decorations for your lawn set up to try. The jumping spider had not failed to make me jump then laugh every visit. Employees are super nice. Though you might not wanna take a large purse or messenger bag in there. I took a book bag in & let them check it (as the sign says you must) then they told me I had to leave it up front while I shopped. I left my bag (including my digital camera, lighter & cigarettes) up front & grabbed it after I shopped. The same employee who checked it when I came in & told me I had to leave my bag in the front checked it again when I left. After I got into the car with my bf & pulled out my cigarettes I noticed that two were missing. Not sure if an employee took them or what. Only bad experience I’ve had.

The store had a decent amount of costumes for women. Can’t really say that about babies, children, or men.

My 100^th review! Thought it would be more exciting…
Having several Halloween parties in ’09 and no idea of what to wear, I stopped in this seasonal store for costume inspiration and walked out with half of what I need for at least one costume. I don’t really want to spend a lot of $$$ for the actual outfit, so I bought the accessories and plan to make the rest from clothes I can find in my closet or at a discount store.
Spirit Halloween has a decent variety of costumes and accessories (hats, wigs, masks) for adults, children, and even dogs (hear that, Javier D.?).
You can also find an entire wall of requisite «sexy» costumes for women (sexy firefighter? check; sexy nurse? check; sexy cop? check; sexy maintenance worker? not so much).
They also carry party supplies and decorations if you’re throwing a shindig (invitation, please).
TIP: if you sign up for the mailing list (I know, I know, more spam), within a day, you’ll receive a 20% off coupon for any one item in the store.

DO NOT SHOP HERE!!! BE FOREWARNED!
I wishe that I could give this place NEGATIVE FIVE STARS !!!
I have only written one other review as I generally do not have time to write reviews. However, I felt incredibly compelled to share my RETAIL NIGHTMARE experience with fellow Unilocal patrons.
Last Saturday, I went into the Spirit Halloween Store with my 6 year old son to look for a Skeleton Costume for Halloween. I was next door at Marshall’s so it seemed convenient. This is a «Fly by Night» Seasonal Retail shop (temporary lease from Out of Business Circuit City).
When I first walked in, I noticed a huge amount of seemingly well stocked Halloween paraphernalia. I finally located an employee and asked where I might find a Skeleton Costume to fit my son. She took me to the far corner where the closest match was a Zombie skeleton and they had only two costumes (different sizes) !! That seemed strange as one would think that it was a relatively common or popular item. The price was listed as $ 29 which seemed high considering the quaulity was so low, but WTH it is a seasonal item. One of them seemed close, and she did say that I could try it on, but there was only one very small and busy area to change so we «eyeballed it» and she told me that I could return it for a refund, but had to do so the same day as this was the last day for refunds and afterwards I could only return it for exchange. I went up to the register only to discover that it was actually $ 39 before tax! I almost left, but decided to purchase it anyway caveating my decision by stating that I might have to return it for a refund later if it did not work out. She said that this would be fine.
When I got home, I discovered that the cloth was made of the thinnest guaze that tore with your touch and the entire outfit was poorly designed and did not fit.
I repacked it and took it back to the store for refund a few hours later. When I arrived back at the store, there was a huge line at the register and I saw two clerks including the «goth dressed girl» one that had waited on me, the two customers being waited on when I stepped into line were still being waited on 20 minutes later!!! Then the one girl left the register, leaving only one clerk behind to wait on the 9 – 10 customers in front of me in line. Ten minutes later and the lone clerk was still assisting the same customer that she was when I arrived 30 minutes prior. Finally the goth chick returned with an older female employee with a huge bleached and teased head of hair (not a wig), I was later to learn that her name was «Sugar» and that she was the Manager. Now we finally had three at the register. Thirty minutes later, I finally made it to the register manned by the employee that had assited me hours earlier with my return and receipt in hand. I explained that it did not work out and that I needed to return it for a refund. She stated that Refunds are not allowed under any circumstances. I reminded her of our conversation earlier and she lied and stated that she had never stated that but rather had toild me that that day was the last day to even EXCHANGE an item. In other words they would not even exchange defective merchandise from October 18^th through the 31^st !!! I mentioned that that was definetely not what she told me and that I would not have purchased the item under those circumstances and that I had mentioned that during the purchase process. I asked to speak to a manager and that’s when SUGAR chimed in and stated that this girl was the assistant Mgr. and that she (SUGAR) was the MANAGER! She went on to say that that was the policy and my only option was to keep the merchandise or exchange it for a replacement item immediately (ie. I could not receive a credit or even come back later that day) and of course wait for another hour in line. I explained that this was outrageous and unacceptable and she screamed at me and yelled that I needed to leave «Her» store immediately!!! I demanded a phone number for the company and asked for her full name, which she gave me.
I left feeling that I had already had my Halloween experience in the House of Horrors! I will follow up with them, but be forewarned, this store is full of cheap, very overpriced merchandise, rude employees and awful policies.
There are many choices in Austin. DON’T SHOP HERE!

Last year we went to the one over in the Tech Ridge area and apparently they confused the theme of scary to some how mean disorganized and depressingly understocked.
That’s not the case here. Obviously the store has limited shelf life but they have put the requisite amount of effort into the layout with some scary full scale dioramas, music and strobe lights. There is a big variety, well stocked and easy to find.
Not much for the kids though which is why we were there. But if you work for ACORN and your office is having a Halloween party this year in spite of budget cuts you are in luck because you’ll have plenty of options to choose from like Slutty Prostitute Nurse, Horny Convicted Pimp, Brothel Witch or Ghoulish Embezzler or my favorite Zombie Census Taker.
Seriously though, they have a little more than you’d expect and should prove as a one stop shop for the older kids who need a costume and some party decorations.