Spirit Christmas opens Tampa Bay location in former Clearwater Stein Mart

Spirit Christmas, a seasonal retail concept owned by the parent company of Spirit Halloween, opened its first Tampa Bay location inside a former Stein Mart at 2522 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater. The store launched in early November, shortly after the Halloween season concluded, and it is the only Spirit Christmas outlet operating in the Tampa Bay region this holiday cycle.

The brand is expanding its footprint in Florida for the first time this year. Four stores are currently open statewide, located in Clearwater, Coral Springs, Jacksonville, and Winter Garden. The concept debuted in 2024 with a limited rollout and grew to 30 locations in 2025. The company takes over vacant storefronts to sell seasonal merchandise, mirroring its Halloween strategy but focusing on holiday decor, gifts, and apparel.

The Clearwater store inventory includes indoor and outdoor Christmas decorations. Items available for purchase include lawn inflatables, string lights, ornaments, nutcrackers, yard signs, and kitchenware. The retailer also stocks holiday apparel such as Christmas sweaters, pajamas, hats, and children's clothing. Additional merchandise includes stocking stuffers, novelty gifts, and plush toys.

The store features holiday-themed animatronics of popular characters, including Snoopy, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. A central in-store attraction is the Candy Cane Express, a Christmas train station experience. The display features an almost life-sized train and caboose. Visitors can interact with the display and write letters to Santa, according to the brand's website.

The store operates on a seasonal schedule. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday hours run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location serves shoppers in the Clearwater area looking for festive merchandise without visiting a traditional department store or a dedicated Christmas tree lot.