Spirit Halloween Stores Threaten One Locally-Owned Shop

The last locally owned costume shop in Tulsa is struggling to compete against a national chain of pop-up Halloween stores.

Since 1998, the Plattens have owned Spot Lite Magic and Costumes, and they're worried how the bigger stores could affect their business.

People who walk into Spot Lite Costumes and Magic beware because skeletons, witches, and creepy clowns are everywhere.

But even though Sacheen Platten and her husband are in the business of selling scary items and costumes, that's not what frightens them.

"When we started, there were four costume shops in Tulsa. We're the only ones now," Platten said.

The couple has owned the shop for 25 years.

They think the number of costume stores has dwindled because of big franchises opening temporary locations.

There are several such stores near Spot Lite, and Platten says it makes her sad to think what could happen to her livelihood if even more pop-ups open nearby.

"It's been difficult to see. We started with one spirit, then there was two, and now there's five right around us. There's more in Oklahoma, for sure,” she said. “It's a chess game, almost is what I feel like."

Spot Lite has been a staple in Tulsa since 1976-- well before the Plattens owned it.

She says the store itself means a lot to the community.

"I might not be here, but we want the store to be here. We want to help because we have generations coming in their kids now or their grandkids because they went to Spot Lite as a child."

Losing Spot Lite would be the scariest thing to happen for the Plattens, and they hope it doesn't get to that point.

Spot Lite is open from 10 to 8 Monday through Saturday and 12 to 7 on Sundays.