Indoor shopping malls in California and across the United States can experience tough times when retailers close. Even in bustling areas and popular districts, malls could have empty spaces that last for months as contracts with large retailers can take months to complete.
During some periods of time, specialty holiday stores can help commercial real estate owners to fill in the gaps in their visible shopping repertoire. Stores like Spirit Halloween or other shops themed around Christmas or popular holidays can fill in a lease for a few months, bringing holiday decorations, costumes and other gear to the local mall.
These kinds of holiday stores are considered “pop-up shops” — temporary stores that keep a retail presence for only a few months. The pop-up shop trend has also been used by other online retailers and corporations promoting new products. In the case of Spirit Halloween, it’s operating 1,300 temporary retail locations across North America in 2017.
Pop-up shops are most frequently operated in popular areas like shopping malls or busy town centers or other outdoor areas. Because they’re only in the area for a short period of time, it’s important to have access to a high level of foot traffic in a location that is easy to find. These seasonal shops can also bring new customers to a mall or other location.
When considering renting space in a mall or shopping center for a pop-up shop, special promotion or long-term contract, legal issues can come into play. A commercial real estate lawyer can help stores and shopping center owners reach fair agreements. An attorney can help to negotiate a contract that brings a pop-up shop to a busy, successful location.
