Panayotoy is the co-owner of the Chicago Costume Co., whose year-round store is located on the city's North Side. But in speaking with GSR, he was referring to the company's temporary store in Chicago's CBD, opened a few weeks before at the site of a defunct Briazz restaurant at 201 W. Madison. At the time, about two dozen people -- all adults -- were in the temporary shop, inspecting its sizable selection of kids' and adults' costumes, headgear, props, and Halloween novelty items.

"In October, we open in a few other places in Chicago," he said. "I don't know what the numbers are going to be this year, but every year until last sales got better and better. In a good economy, people have money. In a bad economy, they want to party."

The Chicago Costume Co. is participating in a larger trend, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Council of Canada, both of which have noted increasing Halloween sales in recent years, and which project a good 2004 for both countries. According to the NRF Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, spending is estimated to reach $3.12 billion in the United States, up from $2.96 billion last year. The Retail Council of Canada estimates that Halloween spending in that country will be up 4% from last year¹s total of C$769 million ($618.7 million).