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Former Christmas Tree Shops store in Massachusetts to be taken over by "Spirit Christmas"

Many say they'd like companies that offer experiences to fill empty Bed Bath & Beyond storefronts
Many say they'd like companies that offer experiences to fill empty Bed Bath & Beyond storefronts 02:10

DARTMOUTH - It's been more than a year since the Christmas Tree Shops went out of business and closed all of its stores. But one former location that housed the iconic New England retailer is going to be embracing the holiday spirit.

The old Christmas Tree Shops storefront at the Faunce Corner Shopping Center in Dartmouth is one of 10 Spirit Halloween stores in the northeast that will turn into "Spirit Christmas" for the holidays. Click here to see a full list of test locations for Spirit Christmas openings.

Spirit Halloween, the seasonal retail chain known for popping up at shuttered stores to sell costumes and other spooky supplies, previously took over a Christmas Tree Shops location in Sagamore. 

The Spirit Christmas in Dartmouth will be open sometime in early November through the holiday season. Customers can book a visit with Santa at the store through SpiritChristmas.com

"Each store offers a unique shopping experience, brimming with a vast assortment of holiday décor, apparel, inflatables, gifts, and stocking stuffers," a spokesperson for Spirit Halloween told WBZ-TV.

What happened to Christmas Tree Shops stores?

The Christmas Tree Shops chain got its start on Cape Cod more than 50 years ago and became a favorite shopping destination for bargain hunters. In 2022, the owners announced plans to rebrand as "CTS" because some confused shoppers outside of New England assumed they only sold Christmas trees. 

But just a few months later, the company filed for bankruptcy and closed all stores in the summer of 2023. 

Since going out of business, old Christmas Tree Shops locations have been turned into furniture stores and supermarkets, and have also been eyed as potential spots for housing developments.  

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