Meet the man behind the jump scares at Spirit Halloween’s 28 Virginia stores

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – Spirit Halloween may only appear in closed retail stores for about two months in October, but for Raymond Smith it’s a year-long effort.

Smith is based in Richmond and has served as Spirit Halloween’s senior zone manager for two decades. He is responsible for opening and operating 28 temporary locations of the popular costume shop from Roanoke to Virginia Beach.

CBS 6 stopped at one of Smith’s largest footprints at the former Sears in the Chesterfield Towne Center on Midlothian Turnpike.

Smith estimates he has about 11,000 square feet filled with all things spooky to help you celebrate Halloween.

“We actually have families from all over the country that come to places of this size and make it this experience, or make it this annual tradition that they come and have fun,” he explained.

The main attraction this year is called “Carnevil,” a carnival play that highlights some of the scariest and scariest characters.

These include Art the Clown, Nibbles the Clown and Ghostface in larger-than-life animatronic forms that greet you as you enter.

According to the store’s website, the 6-foot-tall clown Nibbles is equipped with motion-detection sensors that allow him to detect and follow anyone in his field of vision.

Customers can walk through the House of Terror and spin the Wheel of Fate.

The 2024 theme was inspired by a customer who pitched his idea to the company.

“A few years ago someone said we should have a carnival and here we are. We had a customer contact and here we are doing a carnival theme this year. It’s about the interaction with the guests,” recalls Smith.

Spirit Halloween opened a record 1,525 locations across the U.S. and Canada for the 2024 season. The brand also hired 50,000 seasonal employees to bring its stores to life.

“This is so much fun. This is great – you know, the community we’ve built from Spirit Halloween,” Smith said.

Popular costumes this year include Beetlejuice, Deadpool and Wolverine.

The Bluey and Sesame Street characters remain a kid-friendly and family-friendly favorite.

There are also face paints, wigs, masks, decorations and projectors.

Each year, the store partners with Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to support young patients who may be spending the holidays in the hospital.

Now through Halloween, you can support the fundraiser by redeeming a 10 percent off coupon in store or entering the code “GIVING2024” online.

How you can help Richmond’s youngest hospital patients this Halloween

Since 2010, total donations have exceeded $1,000,000.

Every year, Spirit Halloween hosts a Halloween party for patients. They provide costumes, pumpkin painting, treats and more for all patients and families.

Participating locations in the Richmond region:

• Spirit Halloween Short Pump Town Center: 11800 West Broad Street, Suite 2650
• Spirit Halloween Staples Mill: 9061 Staples Mill Road
• Spirit Halloween Harrisonburg: 1790 East Market Street, Suite 64A
• Spirit Halloween Lynchburg: 3405 Candlers Mountain Road
• Spirit Halloween Tuckernuck: 9120 West Broad Street 9/14
• Spirit Halloween Chesterfield Mall: 11500 Midlothian Turnpike 9/15
• Spirit Halloween West Chester: 313 Perimeter Drive
• Spirit Halloween Charlottesville: 393 Zan Road
• Spirit Halloween Colonial Heights: 60 Southgate Square Spirit Halloween Swift Creek: 13315 Rittenhouse Drive
• Spirit Halloween Waynesboro: 794 East Main Street

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